Experimental studies of natural convection heat transfer of Al 2O3/DI water nanoparticle suspensions (Nanofluids)

Abstract

The natural convection heat transfer characteristics of Al 2O3/water nanofluids comprised of 47nm, Al 2O3 and water, with volume fractions ranging from 0.5% through 6%, has been investigated through a set of experimental measurements. The temperature of the heated surface and the Nusselt number of different volume fractions of Al2O3/water nanofluids natural convection tests clearly demonstrated a deviation from that of pure base fluids (distilled water). In the investigation, a deterioration of the natural convection heat transfer coefficient was observed with increases of the volume fraction of the nanoparticles in the nanofluids. The deterioration phenomenon was further investigated through a visualization study on a 850nm diameter polystyrene particle/water suspension in a bottom heating rectangular enclosure. The influence of particle movements on the heat transfer and natural flow of the polystyrene particle/DI water suspension were filmed, and the temperature changes on the heating and cooling surfaces were recorded. The results were analyzed in an effort to explain the causes of the natural convection heat transfer deterioration of the 47nm Al2O3/water nanofluids observed in the experiments. The visualization results confirmed the natural convective heat transfer deterioration, and further explained the causes of the deterioration of the nanofluids natural convective heat transfer. © 2010 C. H. Li and G. P. Peterson.