A sensitivity analysis on thermal and pumping power for the flow of nanofluid inside a wavy channel

In this study, a sensitivity analysis is performed by means of surface methodology in order to manage thermal and pumping power for nanofluid flow inside a wavy channel. The governing equations such as 2D steady continuity, momentum, and energy equations have been solved using a finite volume approach. The computational simulations are performed for different Reynolds number (300 Re 600), solid volume fractions of nanoparticles (0.01 <= phi <= 0.05) and channel aspect ratio. The average Nusselt number and the pressure drop ratio are also calculated by numerical experimentation. It was found that the mixing of fluid in wavy channel improves, consequently, the temperature gradient near the wall increases by increasing the amplitude of the wavy wall. The maximum enhancement in Nusselt number with increase in aspect ratio (lambda = 0.1 -> 0.3) is in the vicinity of 56% for Re = 600 and phi = 1%, while it is in the vicinity of 24% due to increase in the solid volume fraction (phi = 1% -> 5%) for Re = 600 and lambda = 0.1. Moreover, the non-dimensional pressure drop is more sensitive to the channel aspect ratio rather than the Reynolds number and solid volume fraction. Besides, the sensitivities of average Nusselt number to the Reynolds number and channel aspect ratio increase with increase in the channel aspect ratio. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.