Influence of ultrasonication energy on the dispersion consistency of Al2O3–glycerol nanofluid based on viscosity data,and model development for the required ultrasonication energy density

Achieving homogenised and stable suspensions has been one of the important research topics in nanofluid investigations. Preparing nanofluids, especially from the two-step method, is often accompanied with varying degrees of agglomerations depending on some parameters. These parameters include the physical structure of the nanoparticle, the prevalent particle charge, the strength of van der Waals forces of attraction and repulsiveness strength. Amongst the methods of deagglomeration, the use of ultrasonic vibration is most popular for achieving uniform dispersion. However, there are very few works related to its effect on the thermo-physical properties of nanofluids, and above all, standardising the minimum required ultrasonication time/energy for nanofluids synthesis. In this work, the optimum energy required for uniform and initially stable nanofluid has been investigated through experimental study on the combined influence of ultrasonication time/energy, nanoparticle size, volume fraction and temperature on the viscosity of alumina–glycerol nanofluids. Three different sizes of alumina nanoparticles were synthesised with glycerol using ultrasonication-assisted two-step approach. The viscosities of the nanofluid samples were measured between temperatures of 20–70?°C for volume fractions up to 5%. Based on the present experimental results, the viscosity characteristics of the nanofluid samples were dependent on particle size, volume fraction and working temperature. Using viscometry, the optimum energy density required for preparing homogenous nanofluid was obtained for all particle sizes and volume fractions. Finally, an energy density model was derived using dimensionless analysis based on the consideration of nanoparticle binding/interaction energy in base fluid, particle size, volume fraction, temperature and other base fluid properties. The model's empirical constants were obtained using nonlinear regression based on the present experimental data.     

Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics of Smooth Horizontal Tubes in the Transitional Flow Regime

The operating conditions of many heat exchangers are in, or close to, the transitional flow regime. However, in this regime, not a lot of design information is available and some design books even recommend to not design heat exchangers to operate in the transitional flow regime. Furthermore, it is known that the type of inlet of heat exchangers influences the transition characteristics. It was therefore the purpose of this study to measure heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in smooth horizontal tubes using different types of inlets. The types of inlets were hydrodynamically fully developed, square-edged, re-entrant, and bellmouth. Experiments were conducted on a 14.48-mm inner diameter horizontal tube in which the water was cooled. Reynolds numbers ranged between 1000 and 20,000 and Grashof numbers were on the order of 10⁵. It was found that for adiabatic flow the square-edged inlet delayed transition to Reynolds numbers of around 2600, while the bellmouth inlet delayed it to about 7000. However, for diabatic flow, the transition was independent of the type of inlet. Laminar friction factors were much higher than their theoretically predicted values due to the secondary flows increasing the amount of mixing in the tube. Heat transfer measurements showed that transition with water was totally independent of the type of inlet used.     

The drying of grain with heat pumps in South Africa: A techno-economic analysis

The economic viability of air heating for grain drying with the aid of heat pumps and the viability of replacing existing heating methods (i.e. direct electrical heaters and diesel burners) with heat pumps are investigated. The energy costs of different types of heating apparatus to dry grain are calculated and, taking the different capital costs into account, the life cycle costs of the heating methods can be predicted. On comparing the life cycle costs of the different heating methods, it is concluded that heat pumps are more economical than other methods of heating provided that the apparatus is used for more than a minimum period per year. Drying of grain is usually done for periods shorter than this minimum; the result is that the use of heat pumps cannot be economically justified for the drying of grain only.     

Experimental investigations into viscosity,pH and electrical conductivity of nanofluid prepared from palm kernel fibre and a mixture of water and ethylene glycol

Extensive research has been carried out on the synthesis and applications of nanofluid produced from metals, nonmetals and their oxides. However, little or no attention has been paid to bio-based nanoparticles. The need for the use of bio-based nanoparticles and bio-based nanofluids is imperative to mitigate over-dependence on toxic synthetic nanoparticles. This idea is also in line with renewable and sustainable developmental goals. Moreover, bio-based materials like palm kernel fibre (PKF) constitute environmental waste in some quarters and its conversion to useful products for engineering application will take a long time in solving environmental issues and health hazards. In this study, the top-down approach was used to synthesize nanoparticles from PKF using a ball-milling machine. The PKF nanoparticles with an average size of \(\sim \)40 nm were dispersed in an ethylene glycol (EG)/water (50:50) base fluid up to 0.5% of the volume fraction. The viscosity, pH and electrical conductivity of PKF–water and EG (50:50) were studied for temperature ranging from 10 to 60\(^{\circ }\)C. The results showed that the viscosity of the PKF-based nanofluid increases with an increase in volume fraction and decreases exponentially with an increase in the working temperature of the nanofluid. The pH and the electrical conductivity increased as the volume fraction of the PKF nanoparticle was increased from 0.1 to 0.5%. However, the pH decreased with an increase in the temperature while the electrical conductivity increased with an increase in the volume fraction. Since the notable theoretical models in the literature were unable to estimate the viscosity of the PKF–EG/water nanofluid, in the present case an empirical correlation based on dimensional analysis was proposed to estimate the viscosity of the PKF–EG/water nanofluids.     

Effect of Various Surfactants on the Viscosity,Thermal and Electrical Conductivity of Graphene Nanoplatelets Nanofluid

International Journal of Thermophysics - The paper describes the metrological characterization of the highly stable Pt-40%Rh/Pt-6%Rh thermocouples to determine their reference function in the...     

Experimental study of convective condensation in an inclined smooth tube. Part II: Inclination effect on pressure drops and void fractions

This article is the second part of a two-part paper, dealing with an experimental study of convective condensation of R134a at a saturation temperature of 40 °C in an 8.38 mm inner diameter smooth tube in inclined orientations. The first part concentrates on the flow pattern and the heat transfer coefficients. This second part presents the pressures drops in the test condenser for different mass fluxes and different vapour qualities for the whole range of inclination angles (downwards and upwards). Pressures drops in a horizontal orientation were compared with correlations available in literature. In a vertical orientation, the experimental results were compared with pressure drop correlations associated with void fraction correlations available in literature. A good agreement was found for vertical upward flows but no correlation predicted correctly the measurements for downward flows. An apparent gravitational pressure drop and an apparent void fraction were defined in order to study the inclination effect on the flow. For upward flows, it seems as if the void fraction and the frictional pressure drop are independent of the inclination angle. Apparent void fractions were successfully compared with correlations in literature. This was not the case for downward flows. The experimental results for stratified downward flows were also successfully compared with the model of Taitel and Dukler.     

Heat Transfer during Annular Tube Contact in a Helically Coiled Tube-in-Tube Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Helically wound tube-in-tube heat exchangers are manufactured by coiling two tubes, one placed inside the other. This method often results in the tubes not sharing the same center line, and therefore annular contact occurs in some cases. An experimental comparison was made of such tubes in a heat exchanger with annular contact, as opposed to an aligned (concentric) device without annular contact, in order to quantify the effect of annular contact in terms of heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop. By comparing the heat transfer characteristics, it was concluded that the heat transfer coefficient in the annulus was found to increase substantially. The result was an improved performance by the heat exchanger where annular contact occurs, compared to the heat exchanger with the inner tube in a concentric position.     

The Viscosity of Nanofluids: A Review of the Theoretical,Empirical, and Numerical Models

The enhanced thermal characteristics of nanofluids have made it one of the most raplidly growing research areas in the last decade. Numerous researches have shown the merits of nanofluids in heat transfer equipment. However, one of the problems is the increase in viscosity due to the suspension of nanoparticles. This viscosity increase is not desirable in the industry, especially when it involves flow, such as in heat exchanger or microchannel applications where lowering pressure drop and pumping power are of significance. In this regard, a critical review of the theoretical, empirical, and numerical models for effective viscosity of nanofluids is presented. Furthermore, different parameters affecting the viscosity of nanofluids such as nanoparticle volume fraction, size, shape, temperature, pH, and shearing rate are reviewed. Other properties such as nanofluid stability and magnetorheological characteristics of some nanofluids are also reviewed. The important parameters influencing viscosity of nanofluids are temperature, nanoparticle volume fraction, size, shape, pH, and shearing rate. Regarding the composite of nanofluids, which can consist of different fluid bases and different nanoparticles, different accurate correlations for different nanofluids need to be developed. Finally, there is a lack of investigation into the stability of different nanofluids when the viscosity is the target point.     

Asymmetrical Non-Uniform Heat Flux Distributions For Laminar Flow Heat Transfer With Mixed Convection In a Horizontal Circular Tube

Non-symmetric heat flux distributions in terms of gravity in solar collector tubes influence buoyancy-driven secondary flow which has an impact on the associated heat transfer and pressure drop performance. In this study the influence of the asymmetry angle (0°, 20°, 30° and 40°) with regard to gravity for non-uniform heat flux boundaries in a horizontal circular tube was investigated numerically. A stainless steel tube with an inner diameter of 62.68 mm, a wall thickness of 5.16 mm, and a length of 10 m was considered for water inlet temperatures ranging from 290 K to 360 K and inlet Reynolds numbers ranging from 130 to 2000. Conjugate heat transfer was modelled for different sinusoidal type outer surface heat flux distributions with a base-level incident heat flux intensity of 7.1 kW/m². It was found that average internal heat transfer coefficients increased with the circumferential span of the heat flux distribution. Average internal and axial local heat transfer coefficients and overall friction factors were at their highest for symmetrical heat flux cases (gravity at 0º) and lower for asymmetric cases. The internal heat transfer coefficients also increased with the inlet fluid temperature and decreased with an increase in the external heat loss transfer coefficient. Friction factors decreased with an increase in fluid inlet temperature or an increase in the external heat loss transfer coefficients of the tube model.     

Three‐dimensional optimisation of a fuel gas channel of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for maximum current density

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells operated with hydrogen and air offer promising alternative to conventional fossil fuel sources for transport and stationary applications because of its high efficiency, low‐temperature operation, high power density, fast start‐up and potable power for mobile application. Power levels derivable from this class of fuel cell depend on the operating parameters. In this study, a three‐dimensional numerical optimisation of the effect of operating and design parameters of PEM fuel cell performance was developed. The model computational domain includes an anode flow channel, membrane electrode assembly and a cathode flow channel. The continuity, momentum, energy and species conservation equations describing the flow and species transport of the gas mixture in the coupled gas channels and the electrodes were numerically solved using a computational fluid dynamics code. The effects of several key parameters, including channel geometries (width and depth), flow orientation and gas diffusion layer (GDL) porosity on performance and species distribution in a typical fuel cell system have been studied. Numerical results of the effect of flow rate and GDL porosity on the flow channel optimal configurations for PEM fuel cell are reported. Simulations were carried out ranging from 0.6 to 1.6 mm for channel width, 0.5 to 3.0 mm for channel depth and 0.1 to 0.7 for the GDL porosity. Results were evaluated at 0.3 V operating cell voltage of the PEM fuel cell. The optimisation results show that the optimum dimension values for channel depth and channel width are 2.0 and 1.2 mm, respectively. In addition, the results indicate that effective design of fuel gas channel in combination with the reactant species flow rate and GDL porosity enhances the performance of the fuel cell. The numerical results computed agree well with experimental data in the literature. Consequently, the results obtained provide useful information for improving the design of fuel cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.