COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF VESSEL CONFIGURATION AND NANOPARTICLE INFLUENCE ON THERMAL AND ENERGETIC BEHAVIOR IN LAMINAR FLOW AGITATION

The research focuses on the significance of heat transfer in a stirred tank, a necessary aspect for various industrial applications. This process directly influences the kinetics of chemical reactions, the quality of mixtures, and the overall productivity of industrial processes. Efficient heat transfer optimizes reaction conditions, ensures thermal uniformity in the tank, and enhances the productivity of mixing operations. The main objective of this study is to analyze the impact of the shape of the stirred tank, combined with the addition of nanoparticles in an anchor-type stirred tank, on the hydrodynamic, thermal, and energy performance of a nanofluid. The tank wall is maintained at a high temperature, while the agitator is considered adiabatic. At the initial moment, the nanofluid has a cold temperature. The equations of motion, continuity, and energy for a non-stationary two-dimensional laminar flow were solved using the finite element method. Simulation results indicate that adding nanoparticles to the base fluid leads to a significant improvement in heat transfer in the stirred tank compared to the base fluid. Furthermore, a decrease in heat transfer is observed with the square shape of the tank. It is also noted that the provided agitation power is higher with a larger volumetric fraction of nanoparticles. A remarkable reduction in energy consumption with the variation of shape has been observed. These findings emphasize the importance of carefully selecting the tank shape and volumetric fraction of nanoparticles to optimize heat transfer while minimizing energy consumption