Numerical study of car radiator using dimple roughness and nanofluid

Abstract

Thermal augmentation in flat tube of car radiator using different nanofluids has been performed more often, but use of artificial roughness has been seldom done. Artificial roughness in the form of dimple is used in the present research work. Present study shows the impact of dimple shaped roughness and nanofluid (Al2O3/pure water) on the performance of car radiator. The pitch of dimples is kept at 15 mm (constant) for all the studies performed. The Reynolds number of the flow is selected in the turbulent regime ranging from 9350 to 23 000 and the concentration of the nanofluid is taken in the range of 0.1–1%. It has been found that the heat transfer rate has improved significantly in dimpled radiator tube on the expense of pumping power. Furthermore, the heat transfer rate also increases with increase in nanoparticle concentration from 0.1% to 1.0%. The highest heat transfer enhancement of 79% is observed at Reynolds number 9350, while least enhancement of 18% is observed for Reynolds number of 23 000.