Performance analysis of louvered fin tube automotive radiator using nanofluids as coolants

Abstract

Nanofluids, the new generation heat transfer fluids, offer higher heat transfer properties compared to that of conventional automotive engine coolants. Energetic and exergetic analyses as well as theoretical performance analyses of the louvered fin tube automotive radiator using nanofluids as coolants have been done to study its performance improvement. Effects of various operating parameters using Cu, SiC, Al2O3 and TiO2 nanofluids with 80% water - 20% ethylene glycol as a base fluid are presented in this article. Use of nanofluid as coolant in radiator improves the effectiveness, cooling capacity with the reduction in pumping power. SiC-80% H2O-20% EG (base fluid) yields best performance in radiator having louvered fin geometry followed by Al2O3-base fluid, TiO2-base fluid and Cu-base fluid. The maximum cooling capacity improvement for SiC is 15.34%, whereas that for Al2O3 is 14.33%, for TiO2 is 14.03% and for Cu is 10.20% as coolants and enhancement in second law efficiency for SiC is highest (20.13%) followed by Al2O3 (19.60%), TiO2 (19.14%), Cu (16.85%) nanofluids compare to base fluid as a coolant alone. Present study reveals that the nanofluids may effectively use as coolant in automotive radiators to improve the performance. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.