Analysis of Turbulent Flow of Nanofluids in a Pipe

Abstract

The steady flow of nanofluids has been analyzed for water and ethylene glycol as base fluids and alumina oxide nanoparticles. Also they were studied in turbulent flow inside a pipe by using fluent and Gambit softwares. The numerical results show a good convergence with previous existing relations. The friction coefficient, pressure drop and viscous drag force increase with increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles. This increase of course is not more considerable than the base fluid in the low volume fractions but with increasing volume fraction, this increase is significant. Between three alumina oxide nanoparticles AF, AR and AK, the nanofluid containing alumina oxide nanoparticles AF have the highest friction coefficient, viscous drag force and pressure drop and the nanofluid containing alumina oxide nanoparticle AR has the lowest. Because of this reason can be due to more viscous nanofluid containing alumina oxide nanoparticle AF. The increasing the Reynolds number reduces the friction coefficient and increases the pipe wall viscous drag force and the pressure drop. Finally, the use of nanofluids has no a significant impact on the developed velocity field.