Comparison of Conductivity of Al₂O₃ Nanofluids between Experiments and Maxwell Model

Abstract:

The thermal properties of nano-fluids are affected by many factors. The effect of the diameter, mass fraction and volume fraction of Al2O3 in water on the thermal conductivity was measured by the method of hotwire. The diameter of nano-particle of Al2O3 was 10nm, 20nm, 50nm, 100nm and 500nm respectively. The mass fraction of Al2O3 in water was 10%, 12%, 15% and 20%. The results show that the diameter of the particle plays a critical role on thermal properties of the base fluid. And for the mass fraction, it will increase the thermal conductivity of the base fluid. When the size is more than 100nm, the coefficient of thermal conductivity is increased rapidly. Compared with the results calculated by the Maxwell model, the conductivity of the nanofulid with a diameter less than 10nm is consistent with the model’s result. And with the increasing of the diameter o f the nanoparticle, the deviation of the conductivity will also increase compared with the model’s results.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 668)
• Pages: 571-574
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.668.571
• Online since: March 2013
• Authors: Jin Ze Yu, Bin Liu, Zhen Liang Li
• Keywords: Diameter, Mass Fraction, Nanofluid, Thermal Property

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