Numerical investigation into heat transfer enhancement of nanoparticle suspensions for an engine liquid cooling system

Yurong He1,2*, Wengen Peng1, Jiecai Han2, Guangliang Chen1, Yanwei Hu1

1, School of Energy Science & Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China 2, Center for Composite Materials, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, China

ABSTRACT

A numerical investigation has been made on the behaviour and heat transfer enhancement of nanoparticle suspensions flowing inside a closed system that is destined for the cooling of engines. Distilled water, TiO2 nanoparticle­water suspensions and Al2O3 nanoparticle­water suspensions are used in this work to compare the flow and heat transfer behaviour in an engine cooling system. Numerical results, obtained for turbulent flow regimes, have clearly shown that using a nanoparticle suspension has produced a considerable enhancement of the cooling convective heat transfer coefficient. For a particular TiO2 nanoparticle suspension with 4% particle volume concentration, the mean heat transfer coefficient has been found to increase by as much as 25.86% at a Reynolds number of 55000 compared to that of the base fluid. It has also been found that nanoparticle suspensions with TiO2 nanoparticles provide a better heat transfer enhancement compared to the base fluid and lower power dissipation than those with Al2O3 nanoparticles at the same volume concentration and at a given Reynolds number.

Keywords Nanoparticle suspension, engine liquid cooling system, heat transfer enhancement, numerical study