Performance investigation of Automobile Radiator operated with Al2O3 based nanofluid

Abstract

In this study, effect of adding Al 2 O 3 nanoparticle to base fluid (mixture of EG+Water) in Automobile radiator is investigated experimentally. Radiators are compact heat exchangers optimized and evaluated by considering different working conditions. The cooling system of a Automobile plays an important role in its performance, consists of two main parts, known as radiator and fan. Improving thermal efficiency of engine leads to increase the engine's performance, decline the fuel consumption and decrease the pollution emissions. For this purpose, an experimental setup was designed. Effects of fluid inlet temperature, the flow rate and nano particle volume fraction on heat transfer are considered. Results show that Nusselt number, total heat transfer, effectiveness and overall heat transfer coefficient increases with increase , nano particle volume fraction , air Reynolds number and mass flow rate of coolant flowing through radiator. Nomenclature Afr= Frontal Area of the tube D ha = Hydraulics diameter of the tube G= Mass Velocity in Kg/m 2 s T= Temperature in Deg C H= Total water Flow length in m = Dynamic viscosity N/sm 2 H= Heat transfer coefficient W/m 2 K f= fanning friction factor J = Colburn factor dimensionless subscripts K= Thermal conductivity W/mK bf= Base Fluid Qt= total heat transfer W/m 2 k nf= nanofluid m = Mass Flow rate Kg/s ai= air inlet temperature = Pressure drop N/m 2 nfo=nanofluid outlet and nfi= nanofluid inlet P= Pumping power Watt, Re= Reynolds number = effectiveness.