Rheological analysis of MWCNT, TiO2, CuO based Nano - Fluids under varying temperatures and concentrations

Abstract

The present work aims to determine the effect of Nanoparticles in Water - Ethylene glycol mixture on contradictory results in literature, which includes thermo-physical property focusing on viscosity. The experimental analysis was carried out using Rheometer on Water - Ethylene glycol based Nano fluid containing 0.015 % and 0.15 % by weight concentration of cylindrical MWCNT, spherical CuO and TiO2 at 10 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 °C. The Rheometer procured result of viscosity shows that the Newtonian to shear thinning transition takes place at high shear stress range in comparison to the base fluid. At 10 °C, highest increment in the viscosity was noted by MWCNT (0.015 % by mass) over (0.15 % by mass) for CuO, 139.3 % increment and TiO2 recorded 64.73 % for (0.015 % by mass) over (0.15 % by mass). Moreover, the modified Maron and Pierce model predicted the viscosity of Nano-Fluid which in turn resulted in showing that viscosity ration of Nano-Fluid increased with increase in temperature due to the addition of high surface activity Nano particles into water-ethylene glycol mixture. The aspect ratio, Brownian motion, shear thinning and surface activity of Nano particles played a major role in the viscosity analysis.