Graduation Semester and Year

2014

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Alan P Bowling

Abstract

This work models the dynamic behavior of molten nitrate salt mixture to investigate the formation of interfacial nanostructures in ionic liquid nano-fluids which is responsible for increase of heat capacity of the mixture. A key application of these fluids is in heat storage in solar collector where the heat capacity determines the amount of energy storage and therefore the efficiency of a solar collector system. The heat capacity can be significantly increased by the addition of a small amount of nanoparticles, of radius 1 to 100 nanometers in a concentration of approximately 1 by weight. This increase appears to be caused by the formation of nanostructures in the fluid, initiated by the addition of nanoparticles, is observed by other researchers. This work is aimed at developing a multi-scale analysis to formulate a simulation that facilitates investigation of the physical phenomena behind nanostructure formation.

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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