Experimental Investigation of the thermal performance of functional magnetic nanofluids

• Main Author: Lim, Wen Jing
• Other Authors: Wong Teck Neng
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/74529
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This is a Final Year Project undertaken by the author to experimentally investigate the thermal performance of a functional nanofluids. Nanofluids are fluid that consists of nano-size particles suspended on a base fluid such as water. Nanoparticles used can be magnetic in nature so that controlling the movement is possible with the influence of magnetic field. This project aims to investigate the heat transfer capabilities of a novel type nanoparticles which consists chains of magnetite nanoparticles had been encased with silica shells to form a rigid rod-like structure will be suspended on the base fluid of deionised water. It is also known as the world’s smallest stir bars. In this project, the nanofluid was tested inside a cylindrical cavity with a hot and cold surface and the temperature was taken by various thermocouples. In addition, flow visualisation experiment was carried out to further investigate the effect of the magnetic field to the nanofluid such that visual observations of the convection flow pattern were possible. Throughout this project, a lower concentration of nanoparticle volume fraction, 0.4 vol% was used. A contradicting result was shown as magnetic field induced caused a deterioration of the thermal performances.This novel nanofluids opens to a whole new possibility of enhancing the thermal performances at a microscopic level. However, more research on the optimum working parameters should be investigated to maximise the thermal capabilities potential.