Performance evaluation of an automobile radiator using CuO/glycerol based nanocoolant

Nanofluids are colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in the base fluid such as; water, ethylene glycol (EG), and glycerol. An experimental investigation of the heat transfer performance of an automobile radiator using CuO/glycerol solution as a coolant has been presented here. The copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles of concentrations 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% (by vol.) along with 0.5 wt. % of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a surfactant, have been used to prepare nanocoolant. The inlet liquid temperature (60 °C) and the ambient conditions are maintained constant (20 °C DBT and 45% RH). The experiments are performed by varying the coolant flow rates (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 lpm). The effect of flow rate and concentration has been investigated on the temperature drop, heat transfer rate, and overall heat transfer coefficient for radiator's coolant and airside. The results show that an enhancement up to 32.5% can be achieved in the overall heat transfer coefficient (tube side) using CuO/glycerol nanocoolant of 1.5% vol. concentration. Additionally, an enhancement up to 15.3% and 22.2% is also observed at the lower concentrations of nanoparticles (0.5% and 1.0%, by vol.). Graphical abstract