Numerical investigation of heat transfer performance of microchannel with wall-mounted obstacles using hybrid nanofluids

Abstract

In the present study, the thermal performance of a microchannel with rectangular-, triangular- and circular-shaped wall-mounted blocks on the top and bottom walls is studied numerically using hybrid nanofluids (Cu+Al/water, Cu+Al₂O₃/water, Ag+CuO/water and Ag+Al₂O₃/water) and ionic nanofluid (Al₂O₃/[C₄mim] [NTf₂]). A constant Reynolds number equal to 10, volume fraction for first and second nanoparticle as 0.1 and 0.05, respectively, wall temperature of 27°C and coolant inlet temperature of 20°C are considered. The microchannel with a triangular block showed maximum heat transfer performance. The Nusselt number of the microchannel with triangular blocks and nozzle at the inlet was enhanced by 145.76%. The maximum Nusselt number has been found for (Ag+Al₂O₃)/water hybrid nanofluid, which is 13.8, 30, 37.12 and 640% greater compared to (Ag+CuO)/water, (Cu+ Al₂O₃)/water, (Cu+ Al)/water and base fluid, respectively. The microchannel with the ionic nanofluid is enhanced by 208 % compared to that with water.

KEYWORDS:

• Microchannel
• Nusselt number
• heat transfer
• hybrid nanofluid
• heated obstacles

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).