Investigation of thermal performance of Fe3O4 nanofluid applied with magnetic field under constant heat flux

Abstract The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the effects of applying a magnetic field generated by ten neodymium magnets sources on the thermal performance and flow behavior of a magnetic nanofluid (Fe 3 O 4 –H 2 O) flowing through a copper pipe to a constant heat flux. This research stands out for its innovative approach in comprehensively evaluating the effects of a magnetic field on the heat transfer characteristics of ferrofluids with three different volumetric concentrations flowing under the influence of the magnetic field. This multifaceted approach enables an in-depth investigation of how each parameter influences the heat transfer performance of the nanofluid. While previous studies have predominantly concentrated on limited set of parameters, the present study offers a comprehensive analysis encompassing multiple variables. The findings revealed that magnetic field intensity and volumetric concentrations significantly influence convective heat transfer. In the experiments, it was observed that in the absence of a magnetic field, both the Nusselt number and friction factor increased with the volumetric concentration of the nanofluid, whereas under the influence of a magnetic field, the Nusselt number increased and pressure drops were observed with increasing Reynolds number. This experimental study investigating the effect of magnetic nanofluids on heat transfer emphasizes the interaction between flow conditions and magnetic effects, providing a significant contribution to the field. In these experiments, the greatest increase in the Nusselt number occurred at Re = 7050 in the nanofluid with 1.5% concentration and was calculated as 48.14%. In this study, it was observed that heat transfer increased when the concentration of the nanofluid increased, magnetic field was applied, and the Reynolds number increased. The comprehensive nature of this research presents novel opportunities for optimizing thermal systems through the application of magnetic nanofluids.