Modeling Nano-Particle Migration in Pipe Flow through Eulerian-Lagrangian Approach

Numerical simulations of fluid and nanoparticles (nanofluids) two-phase flows are conducted using finite volume method. Eulerian-Lagrangian approach is employed to study the nature of both laminar and turbulent flow fields of fluid phase as well as kinematic and dynamic of dispersed nanoparticles. Effects of two-way interaction between fluid and particles and the Saffman lift force are included. The effects of nanoparticle size and volume fraction of nanoparticles on the laminar and turbulent flow field are investigated. Numerical simulations conducted for the range of the particle size from 100 nm to 5 microm and the range of particle concentrations from 1% to 10% in volume. Our results indicate that in developing laminar flow, nanoparticles have tendency to migrate toward the center, while in fully developed laminar flow nanoparticles follow streamlines and remain parallel for Reynolds number of 507. Present work also predicts that nanoparticles have tendency to migrate to a region close to the wall (0.65