Experimental study of the results of adding alumina nanoparticles on viscosity and thermal conductivity of water and ethanol nanofluids

In recent decades, the use of nanofluids has attracted much attention due to its application in various fields such as medical and industries like oil and gas. The combination of nanoparticles with base fluids and its type can produce different results depending on the characteristics of the nanoparticles, one of which is the effect of changes in the viscosity and thermal conductivity of the nanofluids. In this regard, the present study aimed to experimental investigation of alumina nanoparticles composite on the viscosity and thermal conductivity of water and ethanol nanofluids was performed. The nanofluids were prepared by combining of the Al2O3 nanoparticles with aluminum triisopropylate and then dispersed in the base fluids using an ultrasonic device. In this study, Al2O3 particles and triisopropylate aluminium with a partial thickness of about 2 nm were used with different of volume and concentration ratios in different temperatures. Experimental results of this study about the thermal conductivity and viscosity of water-Al2O3 and ethanol-aluminum triisopropylate nanofluids exhibited that the nanofluids have higher thermal conductivity than the base fluids. The concentrations of nanoparticles are very low; however, the thermal conductivity of nano-fluids causes a significant increase in the volume of nanoparticles. The measured thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluids showed that these parameters increased with the volumetric concentration of nanoparticles and also the higher temperature, the lower viscosity and the higher thermal conductivity.