Thermophysical Properties of TiO2-Water Based Nanofluids

Nanofluids are liquid suspensions containing nanometer-sized particles and have been found to be promising heat transfer fluids. This study reports the specific volume and viscosity of TiO2-water (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.5, 0.75 vol%) nanofluids in the temperature range of 283.15- 313.15 K. It was observed that the viscosity of the nanofluid increases with the increasing concentration of TiO2 in the nanofluid. A maximum of 10% rise in viscosity for 0.75vol % TiO2-water nanofluid was observed. The viscosity data obtained was compared with the predicted viscosity values using various correlations available in the literature and the data was well represented by the model given by Maiga et al.(7) within experimental error. The measured specific volume of the nanofluid was found to follow additive rule for dispersed liquids. The percentage rise in thermal conductivity over the base fluid water was estimated using different models available in the literature. Rise in thermal conductivity as predicted by the model proposed by Yu and Choi(9) was found to be maximum at 2.5% for TiO2 volume % of 0.75.