Enhancement of Heat Transfer Rate in Heat Exchanger Using Nanofluids

Abstract

Nanotechnology is concerned with the materials and systems whose structures and components exhibit novel and significantly improved physical, chemical, and biological properties, phenomena, and processes due to their Nano scale size. Workforce development is essential to reap the benefits of nanotechnology development along with technology transfer. The emphasis should be on hands-on educational experiences by developing Nano-tech laboratory demonstration experiments that could be adaptable and incorporated into existing courses in engineering and technology. This is an effort to demonstrate heat transfer using Nano fluids in a mini heat exchanger utilizing commercially available equipment. Theoretical heat transfer rates were calculated using existing relationships in the literature for conventional fluids and Nano fluids. Experiments are conducted to determine the actual heat transfer rates under operational conditions using Nano fluids and the heat transfer enhancement determined compared to fluids without nanoparticles.