Abstract
This thesis studied the effects of gravity induced settling, thermophoresis and Brownian motion on the thermal conductivity of the Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) nanofluids. The base fluid was propylene glycol. The effects were studied by making three samples with volumetric percentages of 0.2 %, 2% and 3% Al2O3 in propylene glycol. Sets of 22 experiments were conducted over time to understand the behavior of settling. All samples were manually mixed each time the experiment was conducted. A Thermtest Transient Plane Source TPS 500S was used to measure the thermal conductivity. Volumetric percentages and diameters of nanoparticle were chosen so that the effect of coagulation was minimized. The diameter of nanoparticle chosen was 15nm. The maximum thermal conductivity enhancement happened when the volumetric percentage of 3% Al2O3 was added in propylene glycol. It was also concluded in our experimental setup, that gravity significantly affected the settling of nanoparticles.
Advisor
Patrick Tebbe
Committee Member
Sungwon Kim
Committee Member
Namyong Lee
Date of Degree
2017
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Mechanical and Civil Engineering
College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Recommended Citation
Mahajan, S. (2017). Study of Stability and Thermal Conductivity of Nanoparticles in Propylene Glycol [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/676/
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