Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer Augmentation in Automobile Radiators using Magnesium Oxide/Distilled Water-Ethylene Glycol based Nanofluid

Abstract

In this study, experiments were conducted to calculate the heat transfer rate and its augmentation with respect to a base fluid for the different parameters in an automobile radiator. The Magnesium Oxide nanoparticles were dispersed in the base fluid of the mixture containing distilled water and ethylene glycol. The fluid flow rate in the radiator was varied using a rotameter and the velocity of the incoming air on the radiator was kept constant. The inlet temperature to the radiator was also varied at different temperatures. From the experiments performed, it was concluded that the heat transfer rate increased proportionally for the nanofluid at different concentrations in comparison to the heat transfer by the base fluid. As the fluid flow rate increases, the heat transfer rate also increases at each concentration of nanofluid. Thus, it was concluded that the fluid flow rate and the addition of nanoparticles at different volume fraction in the base fluid are the main causes for the increase in heat transfer rate.