Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Heat Transfer Modulation in Micro-Dispersed Channel Flow

The object of this paper is to study the influence of dispersed micrometer size particles on turbulent heat transfer mechanisms in wall-bounded flows. The strategic target of the current research is to set up a methodology to size and design new-concept heat transfer fluids with properties given by those of the base fluid modulated by the presence of dynamically-interacting, suitably-chosen, discrete micro- and nano- particles. We run Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) for hydrodynamically fully-developed, thermally-developing turbulent channel flow at shear Reynolds number Re=150 and Prandtl number Pr=3, and we tracked two large swarms of particles, characterized by different inertia and thermal inertia. Preliminary results on velocity and temperature statistics for both phases show that, with respect to single-phase flow, heat transfer fluxes at the walls increase by roughly 2% when the flow is laden with the smaller particles, which exhibit a rather persistent stability against non-homogeneous distribution and near-wall concentration. An opposite trend (slight heat transfer flux decrease) is observed when the larger particles are dispersed into the flow. These results are consistent with previous experimental findings and are discussed in the frame of the current research activities in the field. Future developments are also outlined.Comment: Pages: 305-32

Blasius and Sakiadis problems in nanofluids

The classical problems of forced convection boundary layer flow and heat transfer past a semi-infinite static flat plate (Blasius problem) and past a moving semi-infinite flat plate (Sakiadis problem) using nanofluids are theoretically studied. The similarity equations are solved numerically for three types of metallic or nonmetallic nanoparticles such as copper (Cu), alumina (Al2O3), and titania (TiO2) in the base fluid of water with the Prandtl number Pr = 6.2 to investigate the effect of the solid volume fraction parameter φ of the nanofluids. Also, the case of conventional or regular fluid (φ = 0) with Pr = 0.7 is considered for comparison with known results from the open literature. The comparison shows excellent agreement. The skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, and the velocity and temperature profiles are presented and discussed in detail. It is found that the solid volume fraction affects the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics