Field-Synergy and Figure-of-Merit Analysis of Two Oxide–Water-Based Nanofluids' Flow in Heated Tubes

Field-synergy analysis is performed on the water–oxide nanofluid flow in circular heat sinks to examine the synergetic relation between the flow and temperature fields for heating processes. By varying the Reynolds number and the nanoparticle volume fraction, the convective heat transfer of nanofluid is investigated based on the field synergy number. For heating, the degree of synergy between the velocity and temperature fields of nanofluid flow deteriorates with the Reynolds number increase, leading to a decreased heat transfer performance of the nanofluid. By increasing the particle volume fraction, the degree of synergy between the velocity and temperature fields of the nanofluid flow can be intensified, thus going to convection heat transfer enhancement. After generating results, one can notice that the heat transfer enhancement is strongly dependent on nanoparticle type, Reynolds number, and volume fraction. The results are similar, even if the thermal conductivity of the two considered oxide nanoparticles are quite different. Additionally, a convenient figure of merit that is known as the Mouromtseff number was used as base of comparison, and the results indicated that the considered nanofluids can successfully replace water in specific applications for single-phase forced convection flow in a tube.