Experimental investigation on thermal conductivity and viscosity of aluminum nitride nanofluid

Aluminum nitride nanoparticles (AlNs) have been found to be a good additive for enhancing the thermal conductivity of traditional heat exchange fluids. At a volume fraction of 0.1, the thermal conductivity enhancement ratios are 38.71% and 40.2%, respectively, for ethylene glycol and propylene glycol as the base fluids. Temperature does not have much influence on the enhanced thermal conductivity ratios of the nanofluids, though a volume fraction of 5.0% appears to signify a critical concentration for rheology: for <5.0 vol% for Newtonian behavior, and for >5.0 vol% for obvious shear-shinning behavior, for both ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

Viscosity as a function of shear rate for AlN-EG nanofluid. At an AlN volume fraction of 0.1, the thermal conductivity enhancement ratios are 38.71% and 40.2%, respectively, for ethylene glycol and propylene glycol as the base fluids. A volume fraction of 5.0% appears to signify a critical concentration for rheology for both ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide