Experimental investigation of thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of BioGlycol–water mixture based Al2O3 nanofluid. (5th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdolbaqi, M.Kh.; Azmi, W.H.; Mamat, Rizalman; Sharma, K.V.; Najafi, G.
• Is Part Of: Applied thermal engineering. Volume 102(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 932
• Page End: 941
• Publication Date: 2016-06-05
• Subjects: Nanofluids -- BioGlycol -- Aluminum oxide -- Thermal conductivity -- Electrical conductivity; Heat engineering -- Periodicals; Heating -- Equipment and supplies -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 621.40205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.03.074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-4311

Abstract

Highlights: Measurement of thermal and electrical conductivity for BioGlycol (BG) nanofluid. Experiments are undertaken with Al2 O3 nanofluid up to 2% volume concentration. BG:W mixture displayed 7.5% better thermal improvement compare to PG:W mixture. Thermal conductivity enhancement of 40:60% (BG:W) mixture was twice of 60:40%. Thermo-electrical conductivity (TEC) ratio has been evaluated theoretically. Abstract: Nanofluid as a new brand of cooling fluid consisting of nanometer-sized particles dispersed in base fluid. In this study, the thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of BioGlycol (BG)–water (W) mixed nanofluids containing Al2 O3 nanoparticles were studied. Nanofluids with 0.5–2.0% concentrations were prepared by the two-step method. The nanofluids demonstrated excellent stability over the temperature range of 30–80 °C after using the long term sonication process. Comparisons of the experimental data with many existing models illustrated that they do not display good agreement. Therefore, a new nonlinear model has been developed with 5% maximum deviation for the thermal conductivity of nanofluids as a function of temperature and volume concentration. The results of BG:W mixtures have displayed improvement in thermal performance of 7.5% in comparison with propylene glycol (PG):W in similar circumstances. The thermal conductivity of nanofluid increased as a function of volume concentration and temperature. The maximum thermal conductivity enhancement using 40:60% (BG:W) mixture ratio was twice as high as 60:40% in the same conditions. Electrical conductivity was observed to decrease as the volume concentration increased. Thermo-electrical conductivity ratio (TEC) has been evaluated theoretically based on thermal and electrical conductivity results.