Synthesis and thermal energy storage analysis of copper oxide nano fluid for heat transfer applications

Abstract

In this paper we have discussed about the synthesis and thermal analysis of nanofluid as phase change material (PCM). Enhancement of thermal conductivity rate serves as a greatest challenge in the present scenario and to overcome this hindrance, nanofluid synthesis was made. Copper oxide nanoparticle was synthesised by double precipitation method and the nanofluid was prepared by two step method. Paraffin was selected as a base material in which the CuO-nanoparticle was dispersed. To check the thermal storage enhancement Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test was carried out. With the melting and solidification curve analysis we were able to infer that the latent thermal storage enhancement was increased drastically with the nanoparticle dispersed sample, than with the ordinary base material. The above nanofluid was subjected to laser flash analysis (LFA) to obtain the thermal conductivity enhancement rate. Thus, we can come up with a suggestion of using CuO nanofluid as an effective phase change material (PCM) for heating applications..