Heat Transfer Performance of Novel SiO2 Nanoaerosol: The Numerical Investigation

Presently nanoaerosol technology has widened its application in the heat transfer area and found to be exhibiting remarkable heat transfer characteristics. This paper focuses on a theoretical investigation on the convective heat transfer characteristics of a SiO2-air nanoaerosol flow inside a tube. Based on the properties of nanoparticles and air, the governing equations and numerical models have been formulated and simulations are carried out. The distribution of temperature in terms of time scale within SiO2 nanoparticles, particle to particle interaction through conduction, and nanoparticles to air by radiation is studied. At particle diameters, 30 nm to 120 nm, the timescale of particle, conduction, and radiation are compared, and it was that the temperature distribution in conduction is more rapid than radiation. Aerosol heat transfer coefficient (AHTC) at different Reynolds number (Re) from 8,000 to 20,000, with different particle volume fractions (PVF) from 0.002 to 0.01 has been investigated. Moreover, the effect of the particle migration factor on AHTC has been analysed. However, PVF has very mild effect on AHTC. A maximum of 51.96% enhancement in AHTC was observed by increasing Re from 8,000 to 20,000. Thus, the nanoaerosol has potential in gaseous cooling applications.