Xtreme Materials Laboratory

UC San Diego, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Undergraduate Researcher

January 2021 - June 2022

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