Enhancement of heat transfer using nanofluids: application to an automotive radiator

Abstract

This final project aims to carry out a bibliographic research on nanofluids, included within nanotechnology, one of the most recent sciences and with the greatest future projection. Given the good thermal characteristics that nanofluids exhibit (they improve heat transfer), they are currently being proposed to use them as thermal fluids. One of these uses can be antifreeze in automotive radiators, which will be verified in this work. To verify this, ANSYS® simulation program has been used, specifically its Fluent module. Two simulations have been performed, based on a previously designed 3D model that represents an automotive radiator, since the limitations of the software version used (ANSYS® Student version) do not allow the design of a completely faithful model to reality. The same conditions have been established for the two simulations and only the circulating fluid inside the radiator has been varied. In the first case, the fluid is a mixture of ethylene glycol and water (more common fluid nowadays) and in the second, a nanofluid has been used. Finally, the obtained results have been presented and a comparison between simulations has been made that allows an assessment on the convenience of applying nanofluids to automotive radiators. Although they exhibit great thermal properties, stability and price are two great obstacles to overcome