Browsing by Author "Kisengese, Hilder Mary"

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    Analysis of Water, Ethylene and Propylene Glycol-Based Nanofluids for Optimal Radiator Coolant
    (International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences, 2023-09) Kisengese, Hilder Mary; Mutuku, Winifred Nduku; Makau, Kimulu Ancent
    Convection is the spontaneous movement of fluid phases, either single or multiple, driven by interactions with heterogeneous material properties and body forces such as density and gravity. This movement of heated fluid facilitates heat transfer within a system. Natural convection finds applications in heat dissipation, air conditioning, and microelectronics. However, industrial fluids commonly used for heat transfer, such as minerals, oil, water, and ethylene glycol (EG), face limitations due to their low thermal conductivities, hindering heat exchange efficiency. The production of efficient cost-effective cooling systems for automotive engines is a significant challenge in the automobile industry. Most engines depend on fluid for cooling and therefore use liquid coolants such as ethylene glycol and water, but with poor heat transmission properties. Nanoparticles, which have been shown to improve thermal conductivity, enhance the thermal properties of the fluids. This study compares six different radiator coolants; water-CuO, Propylene-glycol-CuO, ethylene-glycol-CuO, water-MgO, Propylene-glycol-MgO, and ethylene-glycol-MgO. Nanoparticles exhibit improved thermophysical qualities and therefore nanofluids are used as coolants in various mechanical and engineering contexts, including, but not limited to electronics, vehicles, transformers, computers, and electrical devices. The similarity transformation is utilized to non-dimensionalise the governing equations. The resulting equations are solved using a numerical method with the Runge-Kutta fourth-order method. The results show that water-based nanofluids provide the best coolant. However, when the radiator is close to the magnetic field emerging from the automobile engines, copper oxide or Magnesium oxide nanoparticles should be used with water as base fluid.
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    Water, Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol Based Nanofluids with Copper Oxide and Magnesium Oxide for Optimal Radiator Cooling
    (Kenyatta University, 2023-11) Kisengese, Hilder Mary
    Automakers recognize the importance of coolants in keeping engines running smoothly by eliminating waste heat and preventing corrosion in the cooling system. The automotive industry’s cooling system is a considerable problem in producing efficient and cost-effective engines. Most integrated circuit engines use fluid cooling, which relies on liquid coolants like ethylene glycol and water with poor heat transmission properties. Nanoparticles, which have been shown to improve in thermal conductivity, are another option for enhancing their thermal physical properties. With their improved thermophysical qualities, nanofluids find utility as coolants in various mechanical and engineering contexts, including, but not limited to, the following: electronics, vehicles, transformers, computers, and electrical devices. This study compares nanofluids with three base fluids; water, Propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol— each containing copper oxide or magnesium oxide nanoparticles in order to establish the optimal coolant for a radiator. The governing equations will be nondimensionalised using appropriate similarity transformation. The resulting equations are solved using numerical method with the Runge-Kutta method of the fourth order. An in-depth discussion is given, along with graphical representations of relevant parameters, for the effects on fluid temperature, skin friction, fluid velocity and rate of heat transfer and the results discussed taking into account industrial applications. The results show that water-based nanofluid has the highest flow temperature and velocity among the three base fluids. At low magnetic field, MgO-water nanofluid has lower skin friction but CuO-water has the lower skin friction at high magnetic field.