Heat Transfer Engineering, Vol.25, No.6, 54-61, 2004
Heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids in an acoustic cavitation field
Heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids in an acoustic cavitation field have been investigated experimentally. The effects of acoustical parameters, nanofluids concentration, and fluid subcooling on heat transfer are determined in detail. Results show that acoustic cavitation and nanometer particles have a profound influence on single-phase convection and boiling heat transfer of a horizontal circular copper tube. The former is mainly ascribed to the impingement and disturbance of cavitation bubbles and anticipatory activation of smaller vapor embryos within the cavities, while the latter is caused by roughness modification of the tube surface. The above mechanisms are given based on the Schlieren photographs and optical observation. Acoustic cavitation has been shown to be a good way to reduce or eliminate boiling hysteresis.