ISSN Online: 2379-1748
ISBN Flash Drive: 978-1-56700-469-4
ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-470-0
Second Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference
A STUDY OF SILICON DIOXIDE COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION FLOW IN CHANNEL WITH SUDDEN AREA EXPANSION
Abstract
In this study, the experimental investigation was done on the behavior of silicon dioxide (9.58% vol. in water)
colloidal suspension flowing in circular channel with sudden area expansion. The parameters studied were the area
ratio of the expansion and the static pressures along the axial direction of the flow. These parameters were
experimentally analyzed at various mass flow rates ranging from 5 to 30 g/s. The comparative study between the
behavior of water flow and silicon dioxide colloid flow showed that the pressure drop due to sudden area expansion
increases as a result of the presence of the silicon dioxide nanoparticles. However, the percentage increase in
pressure drop is greatly reduced at higher flow rates. For 7.92 g/s, the colloidal suspension flow pressure drop due
to sudden area change is approximately 129% higher than the water flow pressure drop. This percentage is reduced
to approximately 16.5% at 25.7 g/s.