Graduation Semester and Year

2006

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Mun Seung You

Abstract

This research aims at investigating the effect, heater size, pressure, heater orientation and effect of anti-freeze addition on critical heat flux of nanofluids which have shown large potentials as coolants for high power generating uses. Nanofluids have shown about ~180 - 200% enhancement in the critical heat flux values. The effect of heater size employing three different sized heaters yielded about ~180% enhancement over pure water. The effect of pressure on critical heat flux investigated by testing nanofluids at three pressures showed ~240% increase in critical heat flux. Surface orientation effect on critical heat flux carried out for a 2 × 2 cm heater at five orientations revealed about ~120% enhancement at 150°. Two commercially used antifreezes, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol were used to study the effect of anti-freeze addition to nanofluids. Alumina -water nanofluid of 0.025 g/L concentration mixed with the antifreezes at five compositions by volume showed a maximum enhancement of about ~120% for ethylene glycol and ~70% for propylene glycol.

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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