Water, Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol Based Nanofluids with Copper Oxide and Magnesium Oxide for Optimal Radiator Cooling
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Date
2023-11
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
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.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Masters of Science (Applied Mathematics) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, November 2023.