Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Nanofluid Flow Through Elbows with Varied Cross-Sections: A Computational Study
Sarah Rabeea Nashee
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of laminar convective heat transfer in waterbased Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanofluids flowing through 90° elbow joints with distinct cross-sectional geometries.Employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations via ANSYS Fluent, the investigation encompasses Reynolds numbers ranging from 100 to 900 and nanoparticle volume fractions extending from 0.00 to 0.04.The focus is on three elbow joints, each characterized by a unique cross-sectional shapecircular, triangular, and squarewhile maintaining identical cross-sectional areas (0.636 m² ) and curvature radii (165 mm).The study conducts these simulations under a consistent heat flux condition to evaluate thermal performance.The results demonstrate a marked superiority of the triangular cross-section in enhancing heat transfer efficiency across all tested velocities, followed by square and circular geometries, respectively.This finding reveals the significant impact of elbow cross-sectional shape on heat transfer in nanofluid flows.Furthermore, a comparative analysis with relevant previous studies validates the consistency and reliability of the current findings.