Pressure Drop of Non-Newtonian Nanofluids Flowing Through a Horizontal Circular Tube

Abstract

In this article, frictional pressure drop of non-Newtonian nanofluids flowing through a horizontal circular tube was investigated experimentally in both the laminar and the turbulent regimes. Three different types of oxide nanoparticles, γ-Al 2O 3, CuO, and TiO 2, were used for the preparation of nanofluids. A 0.5 wt% aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was used as the base fluid. Pressure drop were measured for a wide range of nanoparticle concentrations. The dimensionless pressure drop for all nanofluids in both the laminar and the turbulent flow regimes as a function of the Reynolds number follows the same trend of the pressure drop observed with the base fluid. Results presented in this investigation are significant because better heat transfer coefficients prevail for nanofluids and yet without an increase in the pressure drop. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.