Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles on the Thermo-Physical Properties and Heat Transfer of Nano-Fluid Flows

Abstract

In this research, an improvement in alternative heat transfer and thermal properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs)/ distilled water, DW nanofluid are experimentally studied and investigated. The two-step approach is utilized to prepare the ZnO NPs/water nanofluid using different concentrations and different inlet temperatures. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and UV–visible spectrophotometer is employed to characterize the nanofluid. Varying flow rates and the temperatures are examined in the heat exchanger's horizontial tube and shell pipe as well as the impacts of ZnO nanoparticles and the temperatures are studied on nanofluid's thermal conductivity and viscosity. The findings show improvements in the thermal conductivity of ZnO NPs / DW nanofluid. A maximum value of 6.67% of the thermal conductivity is achieved at a temperature of 343K using 1 % ZnO NPs. Nusselt Number also shown an improvement of 38% at a temperature of 343K using 0.2% wt of ZnO NPs under the turbulent condition (Reynolds Number range of 8000 to 20000). Experimental results are compared with previous correlations and an acceptable agreement is observed.