Hamed Khajeh Arzani

Heat transfer performance of water-based tetrahydrofurfuryl polyethylene glycol-treated graphene nanoplatelet nanofluids

In order to improve the colloidal stability of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in aqueous media, GNPs were first functionalized with tetrahydrofurfuryl polyethylene glycol in a quick electrophilic addition reaction method. To assess this, surface functionalization of the GNPs was analyzed by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the morphology of treated samples was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As the second phase of the study, the thermophysical properties of samples were experimentally investigated. The third phase of the study involved experimentally measuring and numerically simulating the convective heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of water-based TFPEG-treated GNP nanofluids (TGNP/water) at various weight concentrations and comparison with the base fluid in an annular heat exchanger. The results suggest that the addition of TGNP into the water improved the convective heat transfer coefficient dramatically. The pressure drop of prepared samples illustrated an insignificant variation as compared with the base fluid. The steady-state forced convective heat transfer experiments and simulation have confirmed the promising cooling capabilities of TGNP/water.

Toward improved heat transfer performance of annular heat exchangers with water/ethylene glycol- based nanofluids containing graphene nanoplatelets

A novel synthesis procedure is presented for preparing functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Using sonication method, the functionalized GNPs are dispersed in water-ethylene glycol to prepare water–ethylene glycol-based functionalized GNP nanofluids. Meanwhile, the thermophysical properties of the prepared nanofluids, i.e., thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and rheological properties are investigated. As the second phase of study, the heat transfer performance of an annular channel is simulated and measured in the presence of the prepared nanofluids. To this end, a computational fluid dynamics study has been carried out to calculate the heat transfer rate as well as pressure drop of the well-dispersed nanofluids. Meanwhile, the effects of concentration and Reynolds number on the convective heat transfer coefficient have been investigated at constant wall temperature boundary condition under turbulent flow regime. Consist with the results, the convective heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids are significantly higher than that of the base-fluid. The novel type of nanofluid reveals promising potential for use as an advanced working fluid in future heat transfer applications.