Experimental Analysis on Thermophysical Properties of Al2O3/CuO Hybrid Nano Fluid with its Effects on Flat Plate Solar Collector

Abstract

Hybrid nanofluid is the new generation of heat transfer fluid for various heat transfer applications where transport characteristics are substantially higher than the base liquid. The study presents an experimental investigation of rheological and thermophysical properties of Al2O3/ CuO hybrid nanoparticles suspended in 25:75 (by weight) ethylene glycol and water mixture. This manuscript presents experimental work of thermophysical properties of Al2O3/CuO/water/ethylene glycol hybrid nanofluids and its effect on thermal efficiency of flat plate solar collector. Nanofluids of particle volume percentage of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% were tested. Results show that thermal conductivity, viscosity and density increases with nanoparticles concentration. The efficiency of the collector was improved by 45% by increasing the nanoparticle weight fraction.