Thermal Conductivity Analysis of Graphene Oxide Nanofluid Using Three-Level Factorial Design

Abstract

Nanofluids improve the performance of thermal systems. Graphene oxide nanoparticles were characterized to confirm the structure, using X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Water-based grapheme oxide nanofluids were synthesized. Three-level (32) factorial design was used to examine the effects changes in temperature and nanoparticle loading on the thermal conductivity of prepared nanofluids. Significance of model used was tested using analysis of variance at a 95.0% confidence interval. The results revealed that thermal conductivity varies directly with temperature as well as weight concentration. 30.4% thermal conductivity enhancement is observed at optimum conditions, i.e. high level of temperature (60 °C) and medium level of weight concentration (0.1 wt%).