An Innovative Nanofluid Manufacturing System

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative nanofluid manufacturing system which is an improvement of the Submerged Arc Nanofluid Synthesis System developed by the author. The new system makes use of the monitored conductivity of a nanofluid to acquire the TiO2 nanofluid with good distribution of nanoparticles sizes. Meanwhile, through the automatic control function of control valve, a nanofluid can be produced continuously. When specific resistance of the nanofluid caused by electric discharge machining reaches a preset value, the nanofluid can automatically flow from the system to the collection chamber. At the same time pure deionized water can be immediately and automatically pumped out for supplementing the vacuum chamber, so as to produce conforming TiO2 nanofluid continuously. When the specific resistance is in the range of 1500 kΩ•cm ~ 1650 kΩ•cm, the TiO2 nanoparticles of the most ideal size conformity can be acquired. The pH of the prepared TiO2 nanofluid is 7.5, which is much higher than that of isoelectric point (i.e.p.) by about 4. In addition, the zeta potential of the produced TiO2 nanofluid reaches as high as 45mV, Hence, nanoparticles suspending to deionized water already have possessed electrostatic stability properties. This paper also conducts measurement and analysis of the material properties of the produced TiO2 nanofluids, including their morphology, concentration and Zeta potential.