Research on pressure loss of alumina nanofluid flow in a pipe

This investigation involved the two-step method of adding Al2O3 nanoparticles to water to form Al2O3/water nanofluid, as the working fluid in experiments. The nanofluid was practically applied to a commercial circular steel tube, and the workability of its practical application was evaluated. The experimental variables were the parameters weight fraction, flowing condition and the temperature associated with the pressure drop in the pipe. The experimental results demonstrate that Al2O3/water nanofluid increases the pressure drop, whereas an increase in temperature reduces the pressure drop. The proportional increase in the pressure drop was lower under turbulent flow conditions than under laminar flow conditions. The traditional predictive equation for pressure drop could not be used estimate the pressure drop under laminar flow conditions. Accordingly, this investigation develops a new empirical equation for the friction factor in laminar flow, which is more accurate than the traditional equation for laminar flow.