Development of green, non-toxic, and reusable coolants for non-evaporative fans

• Main Author: Neo, Zhi Yuan
• Other Authors: Alex Yan Qingyu
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Material testing and characterization
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/73511
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Coolants are often associated with cooling efficiency, cost effectiveness, and environmental friendly in a cooling fan for the benefit of the nation. The process of constructing a cooling fan is a complex process that requires much understanding on fluid dynamics and material science. Seawater has been utilized for heat exchanger cooling but few studies on the feasibility of seawater as a coolant for non-evaporative cooling fan. The aim of the final year project was to study the feasibility of replacing traditional coolants with seawater and evaluate in terms of cooling efficiency, cost effectiveness, and environmentally friendly. For cooling efficiency studies, the temperature profile and differential scanning calorimetry were evaluated. The temperature profile of seawater showed a lower cooling point of 0.16oC as compared to tap water of 5.32oC. The differential scanning calorimetry results coincided with seawater having a lower melting temperature 0.46oC as compared to tap water of 3.00oC. It was highlighted that the thermal conductivity can be tuned with the addition of carbon fibers to optimize the cooling rate. Seawater speaks for itself for low cost, as it is attainable widely in Singapore, and being environmental- friendly, as it requires no certification for usage or disposal. The results support the feasibility of utilizing seawater as a coolant in the non-evaporative cooling fan technology. The studies was also extended to consider on various factors such as cassette of the cooling fan, size and shape of the coolant, and the possible additives to be added into the coolant; all to improve not just the coolant efficiency but the cooling fan as a unit.