Rare exact solution to a model of two-phase flow consisting of a nanofluid adjacent to a clear fluid

    Authors

    R. A. Van Gorder

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Int. J. Heat Mass Transf.

    Keywords

    Two-phase flow; Nanofluid flow; Convection heat transfer; Thermopheric; diffusion; Internal heat generation/absorption; Dual solutions; NATURAL-CONVECTION; HEAT-TRANSFER; POROUS-MEDIUM; ENCLOSURE; ENHANCEMENT; Thermodynamics; Engineering, Mechanical; Mechanics

    Abstract

    We consider a theoretical model of a two-phase flow consisting of a nanofluid adjacent to a clear fluid. A method of obtaining the exact solution to the two-fluid vertical channel flow and convective heat transfer model is presented. The results constitute a rare case in which completely exact solutions are possible for a nonlinear flow problem involving nanofluids, as the governing equations are often highly nonlinear. We show rigorously that the nanofluid can modify the fluid velocity at the interface of the two fluids, and can be used to reduce shear at both the surface of the clear fluid and the interface of the two fluids. Upon exploring the existence of the exact solutions, we discover that in some situations there exist two mathematical solution branches, one of which is the physically relevant solution. We then discuss the behavior of the velocity and thermal profiles with the important parameters dictated by the nanoparticles. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

    Volume

    61

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    201

    Last Page

    208

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000318260200021

    ISSN

    0017-9310

    Share

    COinS