Pool boiling of water-Al2O3 and water-Cu nanofluids on horizontal smooth tubes

Experimental investigation of heat transfer during pool boiling of two nanofluids, i.e., water-Al₂O₃ and water-Cu has been carried out. Nanoparticles were tested at the concentration of 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1% by weight. The horizontal smooth copper and stainless steel tubes having 10 mm OD and 0.6 mm wall thickness formed test heater. The experiments have been performed to establish the influence of nanofluids concentration as well as tube surface material on heat transfer characteristics at atmospheric pressure. The results indicate that independent of concentration nanoparticle material (Al₂O₃ and Cu) has almost no influence on heat transfer coefficient while boiling of water-Al₂O₃ or water-Cu nanofluids on smooth copper tube. It seems that heater material did not affect the boiling heat transfer in 0.1 wt.% water-Cu nanofluid, nevertheless independent of concentration, distinctly higher heat transfer coefficient was recorded for stainless steel tube than for copper tube for the same heat flux density.