Enhancing Thermophysical Characteristics and Heat Transfer Potential of TiO2/Water Nanofluid

Abstract

The present study investigates the ability to improve the stability and heat transfer performance of coolants by dispersing TiO2 nanoparticles in water. Surfactant-free nanofluid with 5 different weight fractions of 1 %, 0.5 %, 0.1 %, 0.05 %, and 0.01 % were prepared by two-step method. The stability of nanofluid was examined. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of TiO2/water nanofluid of 5 concentrations were determined over the temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 60 °C for every 5 °C interval. New correlations (with R2 = 99 %) based on the experimental data of thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluids has been presented. Several performance criteria were determined to investigate the heat transfer and pumping power performance of nanofluid. TiO2/water nanofluid showed some interesting results and enhanced heat transfer capability which enables it as a potential candidate for the future cooling medium.