Insight into the dynamics of non-Newtonian carboxy methyl cellulose conveying CuO nanoparticles: significance of channel branch angle and pressure drop

Abstract

Branching channels are commonly emerged in a considerable variety of engineering applications, in which most of the fluids present non Newtonian behavior, such as in chemical processes. It is noted that in the material forming process, when one suspends nanoparticles in a basic non Newtonian fluid, a completely new non Newtonian fluid is formed with different rheological characteristics from the former ones. In our present numerical research, considering the side branches inclined at varying angles, we focus on the fluid flow and heat transfer of the laminar power-law nanofluid in a rectangular branching channel under the influences of generalized Reynolds number. Both the consistency coefficient and power-law index of the non Newtonian nanofluid, different from those of the base fluid, are described by empirical formula, dependent on the nanoparticle quantity. Finite element method is applied in the research. It is found that a smaller branch angle α can cause a larger fluctuation in pressure near the branched region. Furthermore, negative pressures exist both in the main and side branch with some certain inclination angle. Above all, the new extensive results of velocity contours, temperature, concentration contours along with pressure drop of the changing rheological models provide detailed information for studies on non Newtonian nanofluids in many intricate industrial applications.