HEAT AND FLUID FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF FERROFLUIDS CIRCULATING IN A HEAT EXCHANGER WITH A MAGNETIC VORTEX GENERATOR

Abstract

The current work is aimed at numerical investigation and analysis of entropy generation and thermal efficiency of Fe₃O₄/water nanofluids flowing through a heat exchanger considering multiple identical magnetic sources. The simulated domain corresponds to a minichannel heated from below at a constant temperature, while its upper wall is adiabatic. Numerical simulations were carried out using the finite volume method (FVM). To determine the new thermophysical properties of the magnetic nanofluid, the single-phase approach was adopted. The obtained results are presented as the Nusselt number, streamlines, isotherms, and generated entropy with other relevant parameters, namely, the magnetic field strength, number of magnet pairs, range of Reynolds numbers, and volumetric fraction of the nanoparticles. The investigation revealed that these parameters significantly influence the heat transfer mechanism. Selecting these parameters carefully is crucial for achieving enhanced generation of entropy and, consequently, desirable improvement in heat transfer.