Entropy generation analysis for convective heat transfer of nanofluids in tree-shaped network flowing channels

• Published in: Thermal science and engineering progress 2018-03, Vol.5, p.546-554
• Main Authors: Qiu, Susu, Xie, Zhihui, Chen, Lingen, Yang, Aibo, Zhou, Junle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Constructal theory; Convective heat transfer; Entropy generation analysis; Nanofluid; Tree-shaped network flowing channel
• ISSN: 2451-9049; 2451-9049
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2018.02.008

•Convective heat transfer processes of nanofluids are investigated.•Tree-shaped network flowing channels with prescribed heat flux are considered.•Entropy generation rate of nanofluids flowing through channels are deduced.•Influences of volume fractions of nanoparticles are analyzed.•H-shaped tree network flowing channels are taken as example. In this paper, convective heat transfer processes of nanofluids flowing through tree-shaped network flowing channels with prescribed heat flux on channel wall are investigated. The entropy generation rate equations of nanofluids flowing through the tree-shaped network channels are deduced; the interaction between volume fractions of nanoparticles and entropy generation rate is investigated. For H-shaped tree network flowing channels, the recurrence formulas of total entropy generation rate and the order number of flowing channels are deduced, and the numerical examples are presented. A new dimensionless number is proposed to describe the entropy generation properties of nanofluids. Analytical solutions of entropy generation rate distribution of any order of H-shaped construct of flowing channel using nanofluids are obtained.