Investigation of flow and heat transfer of nanofluid in microchannel with variable property approach

Laminar flow and heat transfer of water-Al₂O₃ nanofluid under constant heat flux have been investigated numerically. Single-phase with temperature dependant effective properties has been assumed for fluid. Enhancement in heat transfer and increase in friction factor have been obtained by the use of nanofluid. Heat transfer enhancement is more obvious by the use of variable properties. Also, effects of temperature variation on nanofluid heat transfer are greater than the pure water.