Characterization, rheological behaviour, and dynamic viscosity of ZrO2-SiC (50–50)/DW hybrid nanofluid under different temperatures and solid volume fractions: An experimental study and proposing a new correlation

Abstract

Researchers, engineers, scientists, and other professionals have been focusing on the exploitation of nanotechnology with specific attention to nanofluids and their property of dynamic viscosity that can do wonders in the field of engineering. This study was aimed at determining the dynamic viscosity of the given hybrid nanofluid (distilled water based ZrO2/SiC) by studying the nanofluid's rheology. In this regard, a two-step method was employed for the dispersal of nanoparticles in the base fluid. The nano-powder was composed of ZrO2 and SiC in a ratio of 1:1 (50% - 50%). The dynamic viscosity of solid volume fractions 0.025% - 0.1% was measured in temperatures 20–60 °C by using DV2TRVTBG Brookfield digital viscometer. The research indicated the association between the nanofluid's viscosity and the factors of temperature and solid volume fraction. At first, in order to assessment the characteristics and stability of nanoparticles into the base fluid, XRD, TEM, FESEM, EDX, UV–vis spectrometer, DLS, and zeta potential test were used on ZrO2 and SiC nanoparticles. The results indicated an increase in dynamic viscosity at higher solid concentrations and falling temperatures. The dynamic viscosity increase of the nanofluid was recorded at 20 and 60 °C, which showed a 29.6% and 64.2% rise in the viscosity respectively in the presence of 0.025% of nanoparticles in the nanofluid. This implies that the viscosity of nanoparticles becomes more sensitive at high temperatures. The experiment showed a maximum viscosity rise of 169.4%. The experiments also discovered that ZrO2-SiC /DW hybrid nanofluid can be successfully used in different devices as a Newtonian fluid since it depicts Newtonian properties at various temperatures. In addition, the study put forward a new correlation for determining the dynamic viscosity of hybrid nanofluid using the experimental data (temperature and solid volume fraction). The value of mathematical correlation accuracy was 98.92%. During the experiment, the sensitivity of viscosity in response to a rise in solid volume fraction was evaluated. Lastly, an acceptable level of accuracy of the correlation outputs was seen when the theoretical and practical values were contrasted.