Keywords: Research, Nanofluids, Thermal Conductivity
Background
Applications across many industries including medicine, automotive, manufacturing, and more require high-fidelity coolants. Current state-of-the-art coolants such as water and oils often do not possess the desired thermal characteristics to sufficiently cool things. Additionally, the inert-ness of these coolants are desired in applications such as surgical tools, where damage to tissue is a large concern. By dispersing nanoparticles (nm-scale particles) into such fluids, the bulk thermal conductivity (among other properties) may be enhanced. These fluids, however, are subject to degradation as nanoparticles aggregate and/or settle. The aim of my experiments were to first determine a process by which alumina-water nanofluids with varying concentrations of alumina can be reliably stabilized (minimal agglomeration and settling over a period of time), then investigate the effect of alumina concentration on the bulk thermal conductivity of the nanofluid, and compare these findings to literature.
What I Did
Researched metal oxide nanofluid thermal conductivity enhancement.
Provided intellectual direction for nanofluids project.
Prepared and analyzed nanofluid samples.
Gained experience with dynamic light scattering (DLS), steady-state parallel plate thermal conductivity measurement, and pulse ultrasonication.
Contributed to poster presentation on nanofluids project and written report.
Skills I Used
Nanofluid preparation
pH meter
Ultrasonication
Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
Thermal conductivity meter
Katya_OURS Alumina Nanofluid Poster.pdfZhaoKylan_NanofluidsReport.docx.pdf