Analysis of Water, Ethylene and Propylene Glycol-Based Nanofluids for Optimal Radiator Coolant
| dc.contributor.author | Kisengese, Hilder Mary | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mutuku, Winifred Nduku | |
| dc.contributor.author | Makau, Kimulu Ancent | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-10-17T08:48:53Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-10-17T08:48:53Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-09 | |
| dc.description | Article | |
| dc.description.abstract | 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. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Hilder Mary Kisengese, Winifred Nduku Mutuku, Kimulu Ancent Makau. Analysis of Water, Ethylene and Propylene Glycol-Based Nanofluids for Optimal Radiator Coolant. International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences. Vol. 9, No. 1, 2023, pp. 12-19. doi: 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20230901.12 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | doi: 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20230901.12 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29205 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences | |
| dc.title | Analysis of Water, Ethylene and Propylene Glycol-Based Nanofluids for Optimal Radiator Coolant | |
| dc.type | Article |