Experimental Study and CFD Analysis of Thermal Performance Improvement of Car Radiator by Mgo/Water Nanofluid.

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395 -0056
Volume: 04 Issue: 06 | June -2017 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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Experimental study and CFD analysis of Thermal performance
improvement of car radiator by MgO/water nanofluid.
Mr. Sumit G. Wani.1, Prof. Ravi H.C.2
1PG student, Dr. D.Y.Patil School of Engineering Academy, Ambi, Pune
2Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering,Dr. D.Y.Patil School of
Engineering Academy, Ambi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Abstract - The objective of this study is to improve the
thermal performance of car radiator (cross flow) heat
exchanger by anewcoolant MgO/waternanofluid. Traditional
method of cooling system of engineheatinvolvestheuse water
or EG but we are now using the latest and most promising
coolants (nanofluids) which are used commonly everywhere
for heat transfer applications. The experimentation include
the study of heat transfer characteristics density, thermal
conductivity, dynamic viscosity, specific heat capacity. The
observations were recorded to maintain flow between (5-9
lpm) and average heat transfer enhancement found in the
range of (40-70%) for different volume fractions. The
experimental results were validated by CFD simulations to
check the temperature distributions across the radiator.
Key Words: Radiator,nanofluid,MgOparticles,thermal
conductivity, heat transfer rate
1. INTRODUCTION
In this research paper our main focus is to improve
thermal performance of automobile cooling system so
that it dissipate heat more efficiently and fast to
surrounding’s. In twentieth century, nanofluids is a
mostpromisingcoolantorheattransmittingagentwith
superior heat transfer capabilities with good thermal
conductivity. Nanofluids are used in various heat
exchangers for heat transfer studies more efficiently
than conventional fluids or coolants. Car radiator is
cross flow type of heat exchanger which is prime
componentinautomobileenginecoolingsystemwhose
function is to supply coolants to engine when engine
high temperature. In this study, we are using MgO
nanoparticles having size (40 nm) combine with base
fluid as water, nanofluid on preparation is used as a
coolant instead of conventional coolant such as water
or ethylene glycol. MgO/water nanofluid is used as
effective coolant and its thermal performanceabilityis
good as compared to conventional coolants.
Experimental study followed by modelling and CFD
simulations on star ccm+ for validation of outlet
temperature.
2. LITERATURE REVIEWS
Xie et al[1] reported heat transfer enhancementusing
nanofluids of Al2O3,ZnO,TiO2andMgOwithamixture
of water and ethylene glycol of 55% and 45%
respectively. Al2O3, MgO and ZnO nanofluids showed
superior increment in heat transfer compared to TiO2
nanofluids. Peyghambarzadeh et al.[2] tested a car
radiator using Al2O3/water based nanofluids. The
volumetric concentrations were varied in a range of
0.1-1%. A maximum heat transfer enhancement up to
45% at 1% volumetric concentration was recorded.
Naraki, et al.[3] reported experimental results for
CuO/water nanofluids tested under laminar flow
regime in a car radiator. Volumetric concentrationwas
varied from 0 to 0.4% and inlet temperature was
changed from 50 to 80 C. An 8% increase in overall
heat transfer coefficient compared with water was
reported for 0.4% vol. nanofluids. Hussein et al.[4]
tested TiO2 and SiO2 water based nanofluids in a car
radiator under laminar flow regime. Volumetric
concentration and fluidinlettemperaturewaschanged
in a range of 1-2% and 60-80 C. Lee et al.[5]
experimentally studied the mixture of ethylene glycol
and CuO nanoparticles of 35 nm size at the
concentration of 4.0 vol.% and founda20%increasein
thermal conductivity. Yu et al.[6] experimentally
investigated that,thethermalconductivityofnanofluid
strongly depends on nanoparticle volume
concentrations and it increases nonlinearly with the
increase of volume concentration and the enhanced
thermal conductivity was found to be 26.5% at 5.0

vol.% concentration. Nguyen et al [7] experimentally
investigated the effect of volume concentrationand
temperature on the dynamic viscosity of Al2O3–water
nanofluid and found that viscosity of the nanofluid
considerably increases with the increase of particle
volume concentrations, but it decreases with the
increase of temperature. Wang et al.[8] investigated
the viscosity of Al2O3–water nanofluid prepared by
mechanical blending with particle size of 28nm at 5
vol.% concentration and viscosity increased by 86%
compared to the base fluid. They also investigated
Al2O3/ethylene glycol nanofluid and found a 40%
increase in viscosity. Das et al.[9] also observed that
with the increase of particle volume concentration,
viscosity of the nanofluid increases. Elias et al.[10]
reportedfindingsaboutthermalconductivity,viscosity,
specific heat and density of Al2O3 nanofluids in water
and ethylene glycol used as coolant in car radiator.
Volume concentration and coolant temperature were
kept up to 1% and 50C respectively. Viscosity, thermal
conductivity and density of the nanofluids were found
to increase whereas specific heat of nanofluid was
found to decrease with increasing volumetric
concentrations. Masuda et al.[11] studied the thermo
physical properties of Al2O3–water, SiO2– water and
TiO2–waternanofluids.Thetransienthot-wiremethod
was used to measure the thermal conductivity of
nanofluids. They establish that the thermal
conductivity of nanofluids increasing by 32 % at the
concentration of 4.3 vol. %. They concluded that
temperature did not have any effect on the increase of
relative thermal conductivity.Leeetal.[12]conducted
an experiment to measure the thermal conductivity of
Al2O3 and CuO suspended in water and ethylene
glycol. Particle sizes of Al2O3 and CuO were 23.6 nm
and 38.4 nm, respectively. Their results indicated that
nanofluids had higher thermal conductivity than the
base fluid, and it increased with the increasing level of
concentration. Wang et al.[13] studied thermal
conductivity of Al2O3 and CuO nanofluids with a
particle size of 20 nm. Each was suspended in water,
vacuum pump oil, engine oil, and ethylene glycol. The
steady state method was used to measure thermal
conductivity. Their results showed that the thermal
conductivity of both nanofluids were higher than that
of the base fluids and varying with concentration level.
Sundar and Sharma [14] obtained thermal
conductivity enhancement of 6.52% with Al2O3
nanofluid, 24.6% with CuO nanofluid at 0.8% volume
concentration compared to water. Vahid Delavari et
al [15] CFD simulationofheattransferenhancementof
Al2O3/water and Al2O3/ethylene glycol nanofluids in
a car radiator. Thirumala Reddy[16] Performance
Improvement of an Automobile Radiator using CFD
Analysis.
3. EXPERIMENTAL SET UP AND PROCEDURE
The experimental set up consists of following
specifications: Reservoir tank (40-50 Lit), electrical
heater (2000 W), pump (0.5 hp), flow meter (0-
25lpm),tubes, valves, forced fan (1500 rpm), digital
thermocouples type K type for temperature
measurement, heat exchanger (Car radiator) made of
aluminium alloy having 22 tubes equally spaced along
entire rectangular area, MgO/water nanofluid
prepared with mechanical stirrer by heating and
sedimentation for 48 hours.
Fig -3.1: Schematic of Experimental Set up.

Fig -3.2: Actual Picture of Experimental Set up.
3.1 Details:
Collection tank (reservoir) of 40-50 litres contains a
coolant fluid which is heated by electric heater (2 KW)
up to a certain suitable temperature allows to pass
through a pump (0.5 hP) which provides datum head
up to 10-12 m. flow control valve is used to regulate
the flowsupply and flow meter(0-25lpm)isusedtofix
constant flow rate from 5 to 9 lpm. Inlet and outlet
temperatures of coolant is noted and simultaneously
forced fan i.e. exhaust airfan(1500rpm)is usedtocool
down the hot coolant fluid flowing through a radiator
tubes. Forced convection fan cools down the
temperature of hot coolant and cool fluid again passes
to collection tank to complete thecycle.Firstlyweused
water as a coolant and then different concentrations
with volume fractions (0.25,0.50,0.75 & 0.90) are used
as as a coolant for cooling of car radiator. The
observations are recorded for further calculation of
thermal performance.
3.2 Properties of MgO nanoparticles and
preparation of nanofluid:
Preparation of MgO/water nanofluid consists of
purchasing of MgO nanofluid withhighpurityabout99
% with a particle size of40nm.MgOparticlesarewhite
in colour having density 3.58 g/cm3. While preparing
this nanofluid we have to slightly lower down the PH
value of water then only all particles are dissolved in
the water properly. Mass concentration taken for
preparation is 2% (m/v) i.e. 2gm of MgOisdissolvedin
100 ml of water. Solution is prepared by heating and
stirring and after that whole solution is kept for
sedimentation for 48 hours. Coolants are taken in
different volume fractions and investigate the thermal
and physical enhancement of properties of prepared
coolant.
Table 3.1: Properties of MgO nanoparticles
Purity [%] 99
Approximate size 40 nm
Color white
Morphology Nearly Spherical
True density 3.58 (g/cm3)
Fig -3.3: Preparation of MgO/water nanofluid.
3.3 Properties of radiator material:
Table 3.2: Specifications of radiator
Radiator material (Aluminium alloy 6061),
Density (ρ) 2700 Kg/ m3,
Thermal Conductivity (K) 173 W/m.K ,
Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) 896 J/kg.K
Length 0.42 m
Width 0.32 m
Diameter of cylinder tube 0.006 m
4.MATHEMATICALFORMULATION:Thethermaland
flow properties of nanofluid are calculated using
different available correlations as below:
Thermal conductivity using Timofeeva correlations as
below:
  wnf KK 31
Viscosity of nanofluid using Drew and Passman
correlations as below:
  wnf  5.21

The density and specific heat using Pak and Cho
correlations as below
wnpnf  )1( 
wnpnf CpCpCp )1(  
The rate of heat transfer between coolant and airflow
in radiator given as follows:
1. For water:
Qw = mw . Cpw . (Tin - Tout) = hw. A. (Tw - Tb)
hw = mw . Cpw .(Tin-Tout)/ A. (Tw - Tb),
convective heat transfer coefficient for water.
Nu = hw .d / Kw (Nusselt number)
Re = ρw .V. d/ μw (Reynolds Number)
2. For MgO/water Nanofluid:
Qnf = mnf . Cpnf . (Tin - Tout) = hnf. A. (Tw - Tb)
hnf = mnf . Cpnf . (Tin- Tout)/ A. (Tw - Tb),
convective heat transfer coefficient for nanofluid.
Nu = hnf . d /Knf (Nusselt number)
Re = ρnf .V. d/ μnf (Reynolds number)
5. Modelling of Radiator:
Fig.5 a): Modelling of radiator on CATIA V5
5.1 CFD Simulations: CFD simulations are performed
on star ccm+ for a specified boundaryconditionstaken
in the experimentation.
Fig.5 b): Polygon meshed model of radiator
5.2 Temperature distributions acrosstheradiator:
Fig. 5.2: a) Water at 5 lpm

Fig. 5.2: b) MgO/ Water (0.25) at 5 lpm
Fig. 5.2: c) MgO/ Water (0.5) at 5 lpm
Fig. 5.2: d) MgO/ Water (0.75) at 5 lpm
5.3 CFD plots:
Fig. 5.3: a) Tout plot for water as a coolant
Fig. 5.3b) Tout plot for MgO/water(0.25) as a coolant
Fig. 5.3c) Tout plot for MgO/water(0.5) as a coolant
Fig. 5.3d) Tout plot for MgO/water(0.75) as a coolant

6. RESULTS AND DISSUCTIONS:
Table 6.1: Result table for thermal performance
enhacement of coolants.
Coolants Q (W) h
(W/m2.0C)
Nu Re Error
in
oulet
temp
(Tout)
Water 3841.6 1113.6 10.2 34564.1 2.12%
MgO/water(0.25) 6037.4 2073.2 10.9 35275.4 0.78%
MgO/water(0.5) 8223.2 3784.6 14.0 35591.6 1.07%
MgO/water(0.75) 10648.5 6512.0 18.5 35770.3 3.06%
MgO/water(0.9) 11967.8 9714.1 24.2 35844.5 5.35%
Table 6.2: Result table for thermo-physical properties of
coolants.
Coolants ρ
(kg/m3)
K(W/m.K) μ(N.s/m2) Cp
(J/kg.K)
Water 985.2 0.649 0.504
×10-3
4183
MgO/water(0.25) 1633.9 1.1357 0.819
×10-3
3551.42
MgO/water(0.5) 2282.6 1.6225 1.134
×10-3
3278.82
MgO/water(0.75) 2931.3 2.109 1.449
×10-3
3126.87
MgO/water(0.9) 3320.52 2.4013 1.638
×10-3
3064.2
6.1 Result Graphs:
Fig.6.1 Variation of exp. heat transfer rate for
different coolants at different flow rates.
Fig.6.2: Variation of CFD. heat transfer rate for
different coolants at different flow rates.
Fig.6.3: Variation of average heat transfer rate(exp
& cfd) for different coolants.
Fig.6.4: Variation of density of fluid with increase in
particle volume concentration

Fig.6.5: Variation of thermal conductivity of fluid
with increase in particle volume concentration
Fig.6.6: Variation of dynamic viscosity of fluid with
increase in particle volume concentration
Fig. 6.7: Variation of Specific heat of fluid with
increase in particle volume concentration
7. CONCLUSIONS:
1. Heat transfer rate is incresed due to the
addition of MgO nanoparticles with base fluid
as water. The average rate of heat transfer
incrementforvolumefraction(0.25)is39.48%,
for volume fraction(0.50) is 54.12%, for
volume fraction(0.75) is 65.83%, for volume
fraction(0.90) is 70.45% respectively. The
recorded enhancement range noted (6037-
15218 W )
2. Convective heat transfer coefficient is
increased due to increase in particle volume
concerntration. Averageincrementisfoundfor
volume fractions 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, &0.90 are
49.54%, 70.45%, 84.56%, & 90.14%
respectively.Therecordedenhancementrange
noted (2073-16629 W/m2.0C )
3. Reynolds number is increased due to increase
in particle volume concentration. Average
increment is found for volume fractions 0.25,
0.50, 0.75, &0.90 are 2.01%, 2.88%, 3.37%, &
3.57% respectively. The recorded
enhancement range noted (35275-64525 )
4. Nusselt Number is increased due to increasein
particle volume concerntration. Average
increment is found for volume fractions 0.25,
0.50, 0.75, &0.90 are 11.75%, 26.17%, 49.89%,
& 63.54% respectively. The recorded
enhancement range noted (10-41)
5. Density of coolant fluid is incresed due to
increased in particle volume concentration.
Average increment is found for volume
fractions 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, &0.90 are 39.70%,
56.83%, 66.39%, & 70.32% respectively. The
recorded enhancement range noted (1633-
3320 Kg/m3 )
6. Thermal conductivity of coolant fluid is
incresed due to increase in particle volume
concentration. Average increment is found for
42.85%, 60%, 69.22%, & 72.97% respectively.
The recorded enhancement range noted (1.1-
2.4 W/m.K )
7. Dynamic viscosity of coolant fluid is incresed
due to increase in particle volume
concentration. Average increment is found for
38.46%, 55.55%, 65.21%, & 69.23%
respectively.Therecordedenhancementrange
noted (0.819 ×10-3 -1.638 ×10-3 N.s/m2 )
8. Specific Heat Capacity of coolant fluid is
decrased due to increase in particle volume
concentration. Average fall is foundforvolume
fractions 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, &0.90 are 17.78%,
27.57%, 33.77%, & 36.51% respectively. The
recorded departure range noted (3551-3064
J/Kg.K)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I feel immense pleasure in expressing our deepest
sense of gratitude to my guide Prof. Ravi H.C.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, D.Y.Patil
School of Engineering Academy Ambi, Pune. His
valuable guidance, constant encouragement andmade
it to complete this Project. His appreciative suggestion
always motivated me for putting most willing efforts
on my study during project. My sincerely thanks to
Prof. Yogesh Andhale , Head ofMechanicalEngineering
Department & Prof. Avinash Patil, PG Coordinator for
their kind co-operation and guidance in proper
direction for completion of this seminar work. Also
thankful to Institute principle, Dr. Vilas Nitnaware for
providing all the necessary facilities. Last but not the
least I would like to thanks all staff of the department
who directly or indirectly helped me during working
on the project.
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[15] Vahid Delavari,Saeed Hashemabadi, CFD
simulation of heat transfer enhancement of
Al2O3/water and Al2O3/ethylene glycol nanofluids in
a car radiator.
[16] Thirumala Reddy, K sandhya Rani ,Performance
Improvement of an Automobile Radiator using CFD
Analysis.
BIOGRAPHIES:
Mr. Sumit G. Wani,
PG student, Dept of
Mechanical Engineering, Dr.
D. Y. Patil School of
Engineering Academy, Ambi,
Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Experimental Study and CFD Analysis of Thermal Performance Improvement of Car Radiator by Mgo/Water Nanofluid.

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