Entropy generation of zirconia-water nanofluid flow through rectangular micro-channel

Abstract

The fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics and entropy generation of zirconia, ZrO 2-water, nanofluid flow through a rectangular micro-channel are numerically investigated. The flow is considered under single-phase 3-D steady-state incompressible laminar flow conditions. The constant heat flux is applied to the bottom surface of micro-channel. The finite volume method is used to discretize the governing equations. As a result, the average Nusselt number decreases with increasing nanoparticle volume fraction, while the average Darcy friction factor is not affected. Moreover, the total entropy generation decreases with increase in nanoparticle volume fraction, while the Bejan number is almost not affected.