Computational Analysis of Automobile Radiator Roughened with Rib Roughness

Abstract

Heat transfer enhancement in a car radiator using different nano fluids has been performed very often, but use of artificial roughness has been seldom done. In the present work, artificial roughness in the form of ribs has been incorporated in car radiator. A numerical comparative study has been performed between the ribbed automobile radiator and conventional radiator (flat tube). The nanofluid (Al2O3/Pure Water) has been used as a coolant in the car radiator configuration. The pitch is kept 15 mm (constant) for all the studies performed. The Reynolds number of the flow is selected in the turbulent regime i.e. ranging from 9350 to 23000 and the concentration of the nanofluid is taken from 0.1 to 1.0 %. It has been observed that the heat transfer rate improved with the ribbed roughness as compared to conventional configuration, but the pumping power has also increased. Furthermore, heat transfer rate also increased with increase in nano-particle concentration. The maximum heat transfer enhancement of 79% reported at nanofluid concentration of 1.0% and Reynolds number of 9350 for ribbed configuration.

Keywords

• heat transfer augmentation
• nanofluid
• pumping power
• car radiator
• artificial roughness