Prediction and optimization of thermophysical properties of stabilized Al2O3/antifreeze nanofluids using response surface methodology

In the present work, response surface methodology (RSM) using the miscellaneous design model was performed to optimize thermal characteristics and rheological properties of Al2O3-EG/water (20%:80%) nanofluid. A three level factorial design was utilized for optimization. In this regard, the effect of temperature, solid volume fraction, and their interactions on thermal conductivity and viscosity of Alumina- EG/ water nanofluid was studied. In order to produce second-order polynomial equations for target outputs including thermal conductivity and viscosity, 13 experiments were performed. According to the results, the predicted values were in sensible agreement with the experimental data. In other words, >99% of viscosity variations and thermal conductivity variations of the nanofluid could be predicted by the models, which shows the applied model is precise.