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Thermal conductivity of Al2O3/water nanofluids

Measurement, correlation, sensitivity analysis, and comparisons with literature reports

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Abstract

A considerable number of studies can be found on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids in which Al2O3 nanoparticles are used as additives. In the present study, the aim is to measure the thermal conductivity of very narrow Al2O3 nanoparticles with the size of 5 nm suspended in water. The thermal conductivity of nanofluids with concentrations up to 5 % is measured in a temperature range between 26 and 55 °C. Using the experimental data, a correlation is presented as a function of the temperature and volume fraction of nanoparticles. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the sensitivity of thermal conductivity of nanofluids to increase the particle loading at different temperatures. The sensitivity analysis reveals that at a given concentration, the sensitivity of thermal conductivity to particle loading increases when the temperature increases.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Nanofluid Laboratory of Semnan University Science and Technology Park for providing necessary instruments to carry out the sample preparation and help in the analysis of samples to complete the article in time. The third and fourth authors wish to thank the National Science and Technology Development Agency and the National Research University Project for the support. Also, Omid Mahian wishes to thank Prof. Somchai Wongwises for his supports during his research at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

    Mohammad Hemmat Esfe & Seyfolah Saedodin

  2. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

    Omid Mahian

  3. Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Lab. (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Somchai Wongwises

Authors
  1. Mohammad Hemmat Esfe
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  2. Seyfolah Saedodin
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  3. Omid Mahian
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  4. Somchai Wongwises
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Correspondence to Mohammad Hemmat Esfe or Omid Mahian.

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Hemmat Esfe, M., Saedodin, S., Mahian, O. et al. Thermal conductivity of Al2O3/water nanofluids. J Therm Anal Calorim 117, 675–681 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3771-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3771-x

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