Experimental investigation on thermal conductivity and viscosity of aluminum nitride nanofluid

Aluminum nitride nanoparticles (AlNs) have been found to be a good additive for enhancing the thermal conductivity of traditional heat exchange fluids.At a volume fraction of 0.1,the thermal conductivity enhancement ratios are 38.71% and 40.2%,respectively,for ethylene glycol and propylene glycol as the base fluids.Temperature does not have much influence on the enhanced thermal conductivity ratios of the nanofluids,though a volume fraction of 5.0% appears to signify a critical concentration for rheology:fo...     

Effect of temperature on the effective thermal conductivity of n-tetradecane-based nanofluids containing copper nanoparticles

Nanofluids were prepared by dispersing Cu nanoparticles (∼20 nm) in n-tetradecane by a two-step method. The effective thermal conductivity was measured for various nanoparticle volume fractions (0.0001–0.02) and temperatures (306.22–452.66 K). The experimental data compares well with the Jang and Choi model. The thermal conductivity enhancement was lower above 391.06 K than for that between 306.22 and 360.77 K. The interfacial thermal resistance increased with increasing temperature. The effective thermal conductivity enhancement was greater than that obtained with a more viscous fluid as the base media at 452.66 K because of nanoconvection induced by nanoparticle Brownian motion at high temperature.     

Effects of variable viscosity and thermal conductivity of Al2O3–water nanofluid on heat transfer enhancement in natural convection

Heat transfer enhancement in horizontal annuli using variable properties of Al₂O₃–water nanofluid is investigated. Different viscosity and thermal conductivity models are used to evaluate heat transfer enhancement in the annulus. The base case uses the Chon et al. expression for conductivity and the Nguyen et al. experimental data for viscosity which take into account the dependence of these properties on temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction. It was observed that for Ra  10⁴, the average Nusselt number was reduced by increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles. However, for Ra = 10³, the average Nusselt number increased by increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles. For Ra  10⁴, the Nusselt number was deteriorated every where around the cylinder surface especially at high expansion ratio. However, this reduction is only restricted to certain regions around the cylinder surface at Ra = 10³. For Ra  10⁴, the difference in Nusselt number between the Maxwell Garnett and Chon et al. model prediction is small. But, there was a deviation in prediction at Ra = 10³ and this deviation becomes more significant at high volume fraction of nanoparticles. The Nguyen et al. data and Brinkman model gives completely different predictions for Ra  10⁴ where the difference in prediction of Nusselt number reached 30%. However, this difference was less than 10% at Ra = 10³.     

Effect of dispersion method on thermal conductivity and stability of nanofluid

Preparing a stable nanofluid with high thermal conductivity is of a great concern. In order to find an optimum dispersion method to achieve a better performance, five different carbon nanotube (CNT) structures, namely SWNTs (single wall CNT), DWNTs (double wall CNT), FWNTs (few wall CNT) and two different MWNTs (multiwall nanotubes) were synthesized to prepare nanofluids with three different dispersion methods namely functionalization, SDS/ultrasonic probe and SDS/ultrasonic bath. The experiments reveal that the best stability and thermal conductivity are associated with the functionalized nanofluids. Specifically, for the times after 50 h, the functionalized profiles begin to level off due to their higher stability, while the other two paths continue their declining trend.     

Experimental investigation on thermal properties of silver nanofluids

This paper reports on an experimental investigation of the thermal properties behavior of 0.5 wt% silver nanoparticle-based nanofluids (NF) containing oleic acid (OA) and potassium oleate surfactant (OAK⁺) with concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt% respectively. The experiments were conducted from 20 °C to 80 °C. It was shown that the NF with 1 wt% OAK⁺ yielded the highest thermal behavior enhancement of about 28% at 80 °C compared to deionized water. The thermal performance had higher than the base fluid/nanofluids at approximately 80%. Moreover, the NF containing OAK⁺ showed higher thermal conductivity and dynamics of specific heat capacity than deionized water in all of the experimental conditions in this study. The rheological experiment showed that viscosity of NF was significantly dependant on temperature. As shear rate increased, the shear stress of the NF increased; however, the viscosity of the nanofluids decreased first and then stabilized. It was further found that NF containing OAK⁺ at a range of operating temperatures produced Newtonian behavior.     

Experimental studies on CHF characteristics of nano-fluids at pool boiling

To investigate the CHF characteristics of nano-fluids, pool boiling experiments of nano-fluids with various concentrations of TiO₂ or Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were carried out using a 0.2 mm diameter cylindrical Ni–Cr wire under atmospheric pressure. The results show that the CHFs of various nano-fluids are significantly enhanced over that of pure water. SEM observation subsequent to the CHF experiment revealed that a nanoparticle coating is generated on the wire surface during pool boiling of nano-fluids. The CHF of pure water was measured on a nanoparticle-coated wire which was produced during the pool boiling experiments of nano-fluids. The CHF of pure water on the nanoparticle-coated wire was similar to that of nano-fluids. This result clearly shows that the main reason for CHF enhancement of nano-fluids is the modification of the heating surface by the nanoparticle deposition. The nanoparticle-coated surface was characterized with various parameters closely related to pool boiling CHF: surface roughness, contact angle, and capillary wicking performance. Finally, CHF enhancement of nano-fluids is discussed using the parameters.     

Analysis of entry flow to determine elongation flow properties revisited

The minimisation technique proposed by Binding (J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech., 27 (1988) 173) was used in our Generalised Engineering Bernoulli Equation framework to relate the entry pressure and stress power. We arrived at a final result similar to Binding's using assumed kinematics. Through subsequent assumptions to the kinematics we finally arrive at a result exactly equivalent to Cogswell's technique (Trans. Soc. Rheol., 16 (1972) 383). Thus, these two techniques are related in this general framework. The techniques were used to predict elongation flow properties of a polymer melt and polymer solution. The results for the polymer melt clearly show Cogswell's technique is adequate at high elongation rates. All these techniques require minimisation of the stress power with respect to the flow volume and discussion is given as to the validity of this minimisation technique. In addition, the approximate variational technique we propose gives clears limits as to when a technique, such as Cogswell's, can be applied.     

Temperature and particle-size dependent viscosity data for water-based nanofluids – Hysteresis phenomenon

In the present paper, we have investigated experimentally the influence of both the temperature and the particle size on the dynamic viscosities of two particular water-based nanofluids, namely water–Al₂O₃ and water–CuO mixtures. The measurement of nanofluid dynamic viscosities was accomplished using a ‘piston-type’ calibrated viscometer based on the Couette flow inside a cylindrical measurement chamber. Data were collected for temperatures ranging from ambient to 75 °C, for water–Al₂O₃ mixtures with two different particle diameters, 36 nm and 47 nm, as well as for water–CuO nanofluid with 29 nm particle size. The results show that for particle volume fractions lower than 4%, viscosities corresponding to 36 nm and 47 nm particle-size alumina–water nanofluids are approximately identical. For higher particle fractions, viscosities of 47 nm particle-size are clearly higher than those of 36 nm size. Viscosities corresponding to water-oxide copper are the highest among the nanofluids tested. The temperature effect has been investigated thoroughly. A more complete viscosity data base is presented for the three nanofluids considered, with several experimental correlations proposed for low particle volume fractions. It has been found that the application of Einstein’s formula and those derived from the linear fluid theory seems not to be appropriate for nanofluids. The hysteresis phenomenon on viscosity measurement, which is believed to be the first observed for nanofluids, has raised serious concerns regarding the use of nanofluids for heat transfer enhancement purposes.     

In-line measurement of rheological properties of polymer melts

Shear viscosity (), first normal stress difference (N ₁), and extensional viscosity ( _E ) of polymer melts measured under processing conditions are important in process modeling, quality control, and process control. A slit rheometer that could simultaneously measure , N ₁, and the planar extensional viscosity ( _p ) was designed and tested by attaching it in-line to a laboratory model single-screw extruder. A tube (circular cross-section) rheometer to measure and the uniaxial extensional viscosity ( _u ) simultaneously was also designed and tested. Two commercial grades of LDPE (low density polyethylene) with melt index values of 6 and 12 were used as test materials for the study. Exit and hole pressure methods were used to estimate N ₁, and the entrance pressure drop method using the analyses of Cogswell, Binding, and Gibson (the last analysis used with the axisymmetric case only) was used to estimate _E .The hole pressure method was considered better than the exit pressure method to estimate N ₁ (due to the greater susceptibility of the latter to experimental errors). From the hole pressure method N ₁ was obtained from 100 kPa to 500 kPa over a range of shear rates from 40 s^–1 to 700 s^–1. Among the analyses used to estimate the extensional viscosity, Cogswell's is recommended due to its simpler equations without loss of much information compared to the other analyses. The range of extension rates achieved was 1 to 30 s^–1. The combination of the hole pressure and entrance pressure drop methods in a slit rheometer is a feasible design for a process rheometer, allowing the simultaneous measurement of the shear viscosity, first normal stress difference and planar extensional viscosity under processing conditions. Similarly, combining the entrance pressure drop measurements with a tube rheometer is also feasible and convenient.     

Experimental investigation of heat conduction in polyester-Al2O3 and polyester-CuO nanocomposites

This paper presents an experimental analysis of the thermal conductivity of nanocomposite systems composed of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) as matrices and two different metal-oxides nanoparticles as fillers: alumina (aluminum oxide) and tenorite (copper oxide). The nanoparticles used were alpha-Al₂O₃ (30-40 nm) and CuO (30-50 nm). Samples were fabricated using simple molding and homogenization using magnetic stirring. Thermal conductivities were measured using a device that complies with ASTM norms C518-04 and E1530-06. Measurements were taken at three different temperatures (0 °C, 25 °C and 50 °C), for different sets of samples, varying the nanoparticle fraction used in composite systems. Finally, the experimental data are compared with traditional models for predicting the thermal conductivity of composite materials, showing that the traditional models underestimate the measured values.     

Effect of Lorentz forces on forced-convection nanofluid flow over a stretched surface

Magnetic nanofluid hydrothermal analysis over a plate is studied that includes consideration of thermal radiation. The Runge–Kutta (RK4) method is utilized to get solution of ODEs which are obtained from similarity solution. In considering the impacts of Brownian motion, we applied Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li correlation to simulate the properties of CuO–water. The influence is discussed of important parameters such as the temperature index, magnetic, radiation, and velocity ratio parameters and volume fraction of nanoparticle on hydrothermal behavior. Results illustrate that the coefficient of skin friction enhances with enhancing magnetic parameter while reduces with enhancing velocity ratio parameter. Also the Nusselt number was found to directly depend on the velocity ratio and temperature index parameters but has an inverse dependence on the magnetic and radiation parameters.     

Dynamic focusing effect of piezoelectric fibers subjected to thermal shock

Based on finite Hankle transforms, this paper presents a theoretical method for analyzing the dynamic focusing effect of piezoelectric fibers subjected to the thermal shock of a transitory temperature change produced by a sudden electric current pulse. From analytical expressions and example calculations for two kinds of piezoelectric fibers, PZT-4 and BaTiO₃, it is found that the dynamic focusing effect is dependent on the material property of the piezoelectric fibers so that the maximum dynamic stress amplitude of the two kinds of piezoelectric fiber occur at different radial points. The mechanism of the dynamic focusing effect in piezoelectric fibers is relevant to the evaluation of the dynamic strength and electric signal of the piezoelectric fiber. The results carried out may be used as a reference to solve other transient coupled electrothermoelasticity problems in piezoelectric structures.     

Facile aqueous synthesis and thermal insulating properties of low-density glass/TiO2 core/shell composite hollow spheres

Anatase TiO2 shells assembled on hollow glass microspheres(HGM)with tunable morphologies were successfully prepared through a controllable chemical precipitation method with urea as the precipitator. Thus,glass/TiO2 core/shell composite hollow spheres with low particle density(0.40 g/cm3)were fabricated.The phase structures,morphologies,particle sizes,shell thicknesses,and chemical compositions of the composite microspheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy (SEM),and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS).The morphology of the TiO2 shell can be tailored by properly monitoring the reaction system component and parameters.The probable growth mechanism and fabrication process of the core/shell products involving the nucleation and oriented growth of TiO2 nanocrystals on hollow glass microspheres was proposed.A low infrared radiation study revealed that the radiation properties of the products are greatly influenced by the unique product shell structures. A thermal conductivity study showed that the TiO2/HGM possess low thermal conductivity that is similar to that of the pristine HGMs.This work provides an additional strategy to prepare low-density thermal insulating particles with tailored morphologies and properties.     

Experimental study of critical heat flux enhancement during forced convective flow boiling of nanofluid on a short heated surface

Enhancements of nucleate boiling critical heat flux (CHF) using nanofluids in a pool boiling are well-known. Considering importance of flow boiling heat transfer in various practical applications, an experimental study on CHF enhancements of nanofluids under convective flow conditions was performed. A rectangular flow channel with 10-mm width and 5-mm height was used. A 10 mm-diameter disk-type copper surface, heated by conduction heat transfer, was placed at the bottom surface of the flow channel as a test heater. Aqueous nanofluids with alumina nanoparticles at the concentration of 0.01% by volume were investigated. The experimental results showed that the nanofluid flow boiling CHF was distinctly enhanced under the forced convective flow conditions compared to that in pure water. Subsequent to the boiling experiments, the heater surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscope and by measuring contact angle. The surface characterization results suggested that the flow boiling CHF enhancement in nanofluids is mostly caused by the nanoparticles deposition of the heater surface during vigorous boiling of nanofluids and the subsequent wettability enhancements.     

An experimental study on the thermal performance of ground heat exchanger

A knowledge of ground thermal properties is most important for the proper design of large GHE (ground heat exchanger) systems. Thermal response tests have so far been used primarily not only for in situ determination of design data for GHE systems, but also for the evaluation of grout material, heat exchanger types and groundwater effects. The main purpose has been to determine in situ values of effective ground thermal conductivity, including the effect of groundwater flow and natural convection in boreholes.     

Viscometric properties of viscous theta solutions of monodisperse polystyrene

Theta solvents for polystyrene are prepared from high-viscosity blends of styrene and low-molecular-weight polystyrene, and then used to make dilute solutions with monodisperse polystyrene solutes of high-M = 2.3, 6.0, 9.0, 18.0 · 10⁵. A Weissenberg rheogoniometer is used to measure the non-Newtonian viscosity as a function of shear stress, for low values, and also the complex viscosity components and as functions of frequency. A capillary viscometer is used for high- measurements of(). Viscometric properties, at room temperature, are analyzed as functions of high-molecular-weight solute concentrationc with parameters of constant or to obtain [()], [ ()], and [ ()]. Such a collection of data has apparently not previously been available for polymers in theta solvents (in which Gaussian chain statistics prevail). Also unique is the achievement of high stress ( = 2 10⁴ Pa) at low shear rate, by virtue of high solvent viscosity which is not characteristic of other known theta solvents.     

Impact comminution of solids due to local kinetic energy of high shear strain rate: I. Continuum theory and turbulence analogy

The modeling of high velocity impact into brittle or quasibrittle solids is hampered by the unavailability of a constitutive model capturing the effects of material comminution into very fine particles. The present objective is to develop such a model, usable in finite element programs. The comminution at very high strain rates can dissipate a large portion of the kinetic energy of an impacting missile. The spatial derivative of the energy dissipated by comminution gives a force resisting the penetration, which is superposed on the nodal forces obtained from the static constitutive model in a finite element program. The present theory is inspired partly by Grady's model for expansive comminution due to explosion inside a hollow sphere, and partly by analogy with turbulence. In high velocity turbulent flow, the energy dissipation rate gets enhanced by the formation of micro-vortices (eddies) which dissipate energy by viscous shear stress. Similarly, here it is assumed that the energy dissipation at fast deformation of a confined solid gets enhanced by the release of kinetic energy of the motion associated with a high-rate shear strain of forming particles. For simplicity, the shape of these particles in the plane of maximum shear rate is considered to be regular hexagons. The particle sizes are assumed to be distributed according to the Schuhmann power law. The condition that the rate of release of the local kinetic energy must be equal to the interface fracture energy yields a relation between the particle size, the shear strain rate, the fracture energy and the mass density. As one experimental justification, the present theory agrees with Grady's empirical observation that, in impact events, the average particle size is proportional to the (−2/3) power of the shear strain rate. The main characteristic of the comminution process is a dimensionless number B_a (Eq. (37)) representing the ratio of the local kinetic energy of shear strain rate to the maximum possible strain energy that can be stored in the same volume of material. It is shown that the kinetic energy release is proportional to the (2/3)-power of the shear strain rate, and that the dynamic comminution creates an apparent material viscosity inversely proportional to the (1/3)-power of that rate. After comminution, the interface fracture energy takes the role of interface friction, and it is pointed out that if the friction depends on the slip rate the aforementioned exponents would change. The effect of dynamic comminution can simply be taken into account by introducing the apparent viscosity into the material constitutive model, which is what is implemented in the paper that follows.     

Experimental evaluation of cooling performance of circular heat sinks for heat dissipation from electronic chips using nanofluid

In this work, an experimental investigation on cooling performance of using nanofluid to replace the pure water as the coolant in a minichannel heat sink is conducted. The heat sink comprises of four circular channels with hydraulic diameter of 6 mm. Thermal and hydraulic performances of the nanofluid cooled minichannel heat sink are evaluated from the results obtained for the Nusselt number, friction factor, thermal resistance and pumping power, with the volume flow rate ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 L/min. The experimental results show that the nanofluid cooled heat sink outperforms the water-cooled one, having significantly higher average heat transfer coefficient. Despite the marked increase in dynamic viscosity due to dispersing the nanoparticles in water, the friction factor for the nanofluid-cooled heat sink is found slightly increased only.     

Jet with variable fluid properties: Free jet and dissipative jet

An analysis of the laminar jet of an incompressible Newtonian fluid emerging from a narrow slot or a circular hole, where the physical properties like viscosity and thermal conductivity depends upon the temperature, is given. Both the cases: the case of In the absence of viscous heat dissipation and the case of In the presence of viscous heat dissipation are considered. The governing partial differential equations of the flow problem are transformed into the ordinary differential equations by group theoretic technique. The Runge–Kutta method is applied to obtained numerical solution of the transformed ordinary differential equations.