Numerical study of convective heat transfer of nanofluids in a circular tube two-phase model versus single-phase model

Laminar convective heat transfer of nanofluids in a circular tube under constant wall temperature condition is studied numerically using a CFD approach. Single-phase and two-phase models have been used for prediction of temperature, flow field, and calculation of heat transfer coefficient. Effects of some important parameters such as nanoparticle sources, nanoparticle volume fraction and nanofluid Peclet number on heat transfer rate have been investigated. The results of CFD simulation based on two-phase model were used for comparison with single-phase model, theoretical models and experimental data. Results have shown that heat transfer coefficient clearly increases with an increase in particle concentration. Also the heat transfer enhancement increases with Peclet number. Two-phase model shows better agreement with experimental measurements. For Cu/Water nanofluid with 0.2% concentration, the average relative error between experimental data and CFD results based on single-phase model was 16% while for two-phase model was 8%. Based on the results of the simulation it was concluded that the two-phase approach gives better predictions for heat transfer rate compared to the single-phase model.