Experimental Investigation into Rheological Property of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Suspended in Propylene Glycol-water Based Fluids

Nanofluids are new generation heat transfer fluids and have opened a new horizon in the areas of heat transfer applications. Nanofluids are prepared by dispersing nano-sized metallic particles in conventional fluids of heat transfer. Heat transfer performance of nanofluid depends primarily on its thermo physical properties like viscosity, thermal conductivity, specific heat and density. Viscosity property assumes importance as it affects the pressure drop and hence the pumping power when nanofluids are circulated in a closed loop for transfer of heat in heat exchangers. In the present research, propylene glycol and water (60:40 by weight) is used as base fluid and viscosity of Cuo nanofluid with different particle volume concentration of 0.025, 0.1, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 percent is measured. Experimental results thus obtained revealed that temperature and nanoparticle concentration parameters influence the viscosity of nanofluids considerably. The experimental results obtained in the present experiment found to be in closer agreement with those available in the literature.