A detailed investigation of enhancement in heat transfer using Al2O3 nanofluid as coolant

Abstract

In the current research, enhancement in the film and transition boiling regime is tried to obtain using Al2O3 nanofluid as coolant. The coolant properties such as physical, thermal and interfacial and the droplet dynamics during evaporation are the prime controlling factors for defining the effectiveness of dropwise evaporative cooling. In the current study, aluminium oxide nanoparticle with water is considered as coolant. The quality of the aluminium oxide nanoparticle has been confirmed by performing various characterizations such as X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. Using aluminium oxide + water as the coolant, the augmentation was obtained by altering the thermo-physical properties of the coolant in the favourable direction of heat transfer. The thermal analysis and the comparative study ensures step up in heat transfer. With the increase in the concentration of nanoparticles from 0.1%–0.2% in the base fluid, the evaporation rate increases significantly due to the decrease in the residence time, increase in the maximum spreading diameter and minimisation or elimination in blasting characteristics.