Effect of Injection Velocity on Heat Transfer of Water/Alumina Nano Fluid in A Rectangular Microchannel

Abstract

In this study, forced convection heat transfer of water/alumina Nano fluid in a rectangular microchannel with cross-flow injection is studied. The Nano fluid enters the microchannel with a temperature of 293 K and cools its walls. The upper wall of the microchannel is at constant temperature of 303 K. On the lower wall, there are two holes for injection of Nano fluid flow. Other parts of the microchannel wall are insulated. Slip velocity boundary condition is used for the walls of the microchannel. Simulations are performed for different injection velocities and the results are presented as velocity and temperature fields, and variation of the Nusselt number. The results show that the slip velocity on the channel wall and the Nusselt number increase by increasing the injection velocity. It is revealed that the Nusselt number is maximum at the channel entrance and decreases along the channel. After each injection, local Nusselt number increases due to the increase of the temperature gradient in the microchannel. Moreover, an optimal value for the ratio of the injection velocity to the inlet velocity is achieved using performance evaluation criteria (PEC). It is concluded that is an optimal value of the injection velocity, leading to maximum PEC.

Keywords

• forced convection
• microchannel
• nano fluid
• slip velocity
• vertical injection