Convective Heat Transfer and Fluid Dynamic Characteristics of SiO2 Ethylene Glycol/Water Nanofluid

Abstract

Nanofluids comprised of silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles suspended in a 60:40 (% by weight) ethylene glycol and water (EG/water) mixture were investigated for their heat transfer and fluid dynamic performance. First, the rheological properties of different volume percents of SiO2 nanofluids were investigated at varying temperatures. The effect of particle diameter (20 nm, 50 nm, 100 nm) on the viscosity of the fluid was investigated. Subsequent experiments were performed to investigate the convective heat transfer enhancement of nanofluids in the turbulent regime by using the viscosity values measured. The experimental system was first tested with EG/water mixture to establish agreement with the Dittus-Boelter equation for Nusselt number and with Blasius equation for friction factor. The increase in heat transfer coefficient due to nanofluids for various volume concentrations has been presented. Pressure loss was observed to increase with nanoparticle volume concentration. It was observed that an increase in particle diameter increased the heat transfer coefficient. Typical percentage increases of heat transfer coefficient and pressure loss at fixed Reynolds number are presented.