Numerical study on heat transfer and flow characteristics of nanofluids in a circular tube with trapezoid ribs

Abstract

This study aims to investigate heat transfer and flow characteristics of ethylene glycol/water (EGW) and CuO–EGW nanofluids in circular tubes with and without trapezoid ribs. Nusselt number and friction factor in tubes with trapezoid ribs are analysed under a constant heat flux by changing rib bottom angles. This study compares the convective heat transfer coefficients of 6 vol.% CuO–EGW nanofluid and base fluid. It is found that under a constant Reynolds number, the Nusselt number and friction factor for CuO–EGW nanofluid and base fluid increase with an increase in the inclination angle. The Nusselt number for the CuO–EGW nanofluid in the tube with 75° rib bottom angle averagely increases by 135.8% compared to that in the smooth tube, and the performance evaluation criterion is 1.64.

Keywords

• nanofluids
• trapezoid rib
• heat transfer enhancement
• angle
• friction factor