Experimental exploration and theoretical certainty of thermal conductivity and viscosity of MgO-therminol 55 nanofluid

ABSTRACT

In this study, a combination of thermal conductivity, viscosity, and density characteristics are experimentally probed for attaining maximum heat transfer using MgO-Therminol 55 as nanofluid is reported. Recent studies proved that nanofluids have miserable properties that make them feasibly useful in many applications in heat transfer compared to base fluid.MgO-Therminol 55 nanofluid is synthesized by diffusion of MgO nanoparticles of size 160–190 nm in Therminol 55 at different concentrations (0.05%–0.3%). Thermal conductivity and viscosity are calculated at a temperature range of 30–60°C using kd₂ analyzer and Fenske viscometer. Data obtained from the experimental results reveals that when volume concentration is increased with respect to that thermal conductivity increases, viscosity decreases and density decreases at different temperatures. The proposed models were supportive to the experimental data.

KEYWORDS:

• Density
• MgO
• nanofluid
• nanoparticle
• therminol
• viscosity

List of abbreviations

K	=	- Thermal Conductivity in W/mK
h	=	- Coefficient of heat transfer in W/m2k
q	=	- Heat transfer rate
Al2O3	=	- Aluminum Oxide
MgO	=	-Magnesium Oxide
ZnO-EG	=	- Zinc oxide-ethylene glycol
SEM	=	- Scanning Electron Microscope
CNT	=	-Carbon nanotubes
W	=	-Weight (kg/m2)

Greek symbols

σ	=	-standard deviation
β	=	-ratio of thickness of interfacial layer to nanoparticle radius
Φ	=	-nanoparticle volume fraction
µ	=	-viscosity (m Pa s)
θ	=	-time (s)
ρ	=	-density (kg/m3)

Subscripts

bf	=	-base fluid
t	=	-therminol
nf	=	-nanofluid
r	=	-ratio