Exploring the thermo-physical characteristic of novel multi-wall carbon nanotube-Therminol-55-based nanofluids for solar-thermal applications

Abstract

This work aims to develop a novel nanofluid using Therminol-55 (T-55) as heat transfer fluid and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as dispersants with various volume concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5% and assess its thermo-physical properties for solar-thermal applications. The pH values of nanofluid MWCNT/T-55 with various particle loading were too far-flung from the pH (I) value, which confirmed the good dispersion stability of nanofluid. The measured density shows tremendous deviation from predicted density with increasing MWCNT loading owing to the non-considering of microstructural parameters in Pak & Cho correlation predication. The highest augmentation in nanofluid thermal conductivity was 16.83% for 0.5 vol. % MWCNT at 60 °C. The maximum improvement in dynamic viscosity of nanofluid with 0.5 vol. % of MWCNT is found to be 44%, and this rise is reduced at higher temperatures. The thermal effectiveness of the nanofluids demonstrates that nanofluid with all volume fractions of MWCNTs was favorable at higher temperatures in the laminar region. Mouromtseff number ratio decreases with a rise in temperature and MWCNT volume concentration. It is concluded that the excellent thermo-physical properties and prolonged thermal stability of the MWCNT will be highly beneficial in improving the overall performance of various kinds of heat transfer fluids (HTFs) for process heating and solar-thermal applications.

Keywords: Multi-wall carbon nanotubes; Thermal conductivity; Thermal effectiveness; Thermal efficacy; Therminol-55.