Thermo-economic performance analysis of Al2O3-water nanofluids - An experimental investigation

摘要

This paper reports an experimental investigation on the thermophysical characterization, cooling capability and economic performance of Al2O3-water nanofluid. Al2O3 (20 nm-30 nm) nanoparticles are dispersed in water to prepare nanofluids by two-step method with no application of surfactant. Thermal conductivity and viscosity of Al2O3-water nanofluids were measured at different solid weight fractions of 0.0001, 0.0005, 0.001, 0.005 and 0.01 over the temperature range of 25 degrees C-60 degrees C for every 5 degrees C. The effect of concentration and temperature on thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluids were examined thoroughly. Thermal conductivity enhancement in nanofluids was prominent with variation in concentration and temperature. However, viscosity enhancement in nanofluids was only influenced by change in concentration. New correlations of thermal conductivity and viscosity based upon the experimental results have been proposed. Cooling capacity of nanofluids based on properties enhancement ratio (PER) were investigated and finally, economic analysis of the cooling performance of nanofluids has been presented. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.