Estimation of heat transfer coefficient and friction factor in the transition flow with low volume concentration of Al2O3 nanofluid flowing in a circular tube and with twisted tape insert

Experiments to evaluate heat transfer coefficient and friction factor for flow in a tube and with twisted tape inserts in the transition range of flow with Al2O3 nanofluid are conducted. The results showed considerable enhancement of convective heat transfer with Al2O3 nanofluids compared to flow with water. It is observed that the equation of Gleninski applicable in transitional flow range for single-phase fluids showed considerable deviation when compared with values obtained with nanofluid. The heat transfer coefficient of nanofluid flowing in a tube with 0.1% volume concentration is 23.7% higher when compared with water at number of 9000. Heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop with nanofluid has been experimentally determined with tapes of different twist ratios and found to deviate with values obtained from equations developed for single-phase flow. A regression equation is developed to estimate the Nusselt number valid for both water and nanofluid flowing in the transition flow Reynolds number range in circular plain tube and with tape inserts. The maximum friction factor with twisted tape at 0.1% nanofluid volume concentration is 1.21 times that of water flowing in a plain tube. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.