Computational fluid dynamics modeling of developing forced laminar convection flow of Al2O3-Water nanofluid in a two-dimensional rectangular section channel

We propose a numerical analysis of developing forced laminar convection flow of Al2O3-water nanofluid within a two-dimensional rectangular section channel, heated on the top wall with a constant heat flux of 1000 W/m2. The problem is replicated with the finite-element method using Comsol Multiphysics commercial software. Different cases are simulated with Reynolds numbers of 250-1000 and concentrations between 0% and 6% for particle dimensions of 20 and 40 nm. The analysis demonstrates that nanofluids provide better cooling performance with respect to base fluid. We found an increase in average Nusselt number of ∼ 16% for dp = 20 nm and concentration of 6%, whereas an average enhancement of 13% was detected when the particle dimension was 40 nm. On the contrary, a relevant increase in pressure drop occurred when nanofluids were considered.