Experimental investigation into specific heat of nanofluids

Abstract

This dissertations presents an experimental investigation into the specific heat of nanofluids. Nanofluids, a term proposed by Choi in 1995 of the Argonne National Laboratory, U.S.A. in which nano-sized particles were suspended in liquids to design heat transfer fluids which has become necessary as the sizes of devices operating with increasing speeds as gone down to the micro level. Even at the mega level, power plant, large vehicles and nuclear fuel reactors pose a challenge due to heat transfer technology. While lot of research has been done on nanofluids, it is still inconclusive and there is no agreement on the findings between various research groups. Also, most of the research has been done in areas of improvement of thermal conductivity but it is very important to know its specific heat of nanofluid. The increased specific heat in coolants, lubricants, water increases the heat carrying capacity of the system and thus the different parameter like conductivity, viscosity is more effective. In the present work the specific heat of different nanoparticles – Silver, SWCNT, Zinc Oxide, Aluminium Oxide have been investigated. Set up for this is made whose accuracy is done by comparing it with deionized water (DI), Ethyl Glycol. Also, the effect of different temperature and varying size of nanoparticle have been investigated. The specific heat model is made by applying the data obtained from this experimental set up and is being validated with the previous data handbook and with that of the different nanofluid too. Model 2 of specific heat is more accurate than of model 2 when compared with the experimental value. Specific heat of nanofluid increases with the increase in temperature and decreases with with increase in volume fraction.