CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the work which is being presented in on the topic “An experimental investigation into
specific heat of nanofluids”, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of degree of Master of
Engineering in Thermal engineering submitted in Mechanical Engineering Department of Thapar University,
Patiala, is an authentic record of my own work carried out under the supervision of Dr. S.S. Mallick.

Date: Tushar Anand

Place: (801183021)

This is to certify that the above statement made by the candidate is correct and true to the best of my
knowledge.

Guide:
Dr. S.S. Mallick
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
Thapar University, Patiala

Countersigned by

Dr. Ajay Batish Dr. S K Mahapatra

Professor and Head Senior Professor, Dean
Mechanical Engineering Department Academic Affairs
Thapar University, Patiala Thapar University, Patiala

i
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

No volume of words is enough to express my gratitude towards my guide, Dr. S.S. Mallick, Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Thapar University, Patiala , who has been very concerned and has aided for all
the material essential for the preparation of this report. He has helped me to explore this vast topic in an
organized manner and provided me with all the ideas on how to work towards a research-oriented
venture.

I would also like to thank, Dr Bonamali Pal, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Thapar University,
Patiala, and Mr. Bhupinder Pal, Research Scholar, school of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Thapar
university, Patiala, and my colleagues who were always there at the need of the hour and provided with
all the help and facilities, which I required, for the completion of my dissertation.

Most importantly, I would like to thank my parents and the almighty for showing me the right direction
out of the blue, to help me stay calm in the oddest of the times and keep moving even at times when
there was no hope.

Tushar Anand

801183021

Thapar University, Patiala.

ii
 ABSTRACT

This dissertations presents an experimental investigation into the specific heat of nanofluids. Nanofluids,

a term proposed by Choi in 1995 of the Argonne National Laboratory, U.S.A. in which nano-sized

particles were suspended in liquids to design heat transfer fluids which has become necessary as the

sizes of devices operating with increasing speeds as gone down to the micro level. Even at the mega

level, power plant, large vehicles and nuclear fuel reactors pose a challenge due to heat transfer

technology. While lot of research has been done on nanofluids, it is still inconclusive and there is no

agreement on the findings between various research groups. Also, most of the research has been done in

areas of improvement of thermal conductivity but it is very important to know its specific heat of

nanofluid. The increased specific heat in coolants, lubricants, water increases the heat carrying capacity

of the system and thus the different parameter like conductivity, viscosity is more effective. In the

present work the specific heat of different nanoparticles – Silver, SWCNT, Zinc Oxide, Aluminium

Oxide have been investigated. Set up for this is made whose accuracy is done by comparing it with

deionized water (DI), Ethyl Glycol. Also, the effect of different temperature and varying size of

nanoparticle have been investigated. The specific heat model is made by applying the data obtained

from this experimental set up and is being validated with the previous data handbook and with that of

the different nanofluid too. Model 2 of specific heat is more accurate than of model 2 when compared

with the experimental value. Specific heat of nanofluid increases with the increase in temperature and

decreases with with increase in volume fraction.

iii
CONTENT PAGE NO

Chapter 1: Introduction 1-3

Chapter 2: Literature Review 4

2.1 Synthesis Of Nanofluid 5

2.2 Nanoparticles 6

2.3 Applications of Nanofluids 10

2.4 Characterization Technique 11

2.5 Measurement of specific heat of Nanofluids 12

2.6 Experimental Investigation Carried out By Other Researchers 25

Chapter 3: Evaluation of existing models 26

3.1 Existing Models of Specific Heat 30

Chapter 4: Design and fabrication of experimental set-up for specific 31

heat of nanofluid

4.1 Experimental Setup and Procedure42

4.2 Calibration Of Experimental Set Up 50

Chapter 5: Development of new model for specific heat of Nanofluids 51

from new experimental set up

iv
 5.1 Development of Models for Specific Heat for Nanofluids 57

5.2 Validation of New Developed Models 69

Chapter 6: Conclusion and future scope of work 70

6.1 Conclusion 71

6.2 Future Scope of Work 72

Appendix 73

List of Symbols 84

References 91

v
 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure no. Name of figure Page no.

Figure 2.1 Length scale and some examples related 8

Figure 2.2 Diagrammatic view of the principle of SEM 12

Figure 2.3 SEM view of SWCNT nanoparticle 14

Figure 2.4 Schematic diagram of a modern thermal analyzer 17

Figure 2.5 Calorimeter control circuits 19

Figure 2.6 DSC measuring curves for the determination of heat capacities 20

Figure 4.2 Borosilicate Container 35

Figure 4.4 Data Logger 36

Figure 4.4 Dimmerset (Variac) 37

Figure 4.4 Fiberglass 38

Figure 4.4 Heating Element 39

Figure 4.4 Ansys view of Heating Coil with Container and four 40
Thermocouples.

Figure 4.4 Ansys View of Heating Coil with 40

Container, Thermocouple and its cap.

Figure 4.10 Extruded Foam 40

Figure 4.11 Ansys view to show exact location of insulation (extruded 40

foam, glasswool) heating coil, and thermocouple

vi
Figure 4.12 Thermocouples 41

Figure 4.13 Ammemeter 42

Figure 4.14 Voltmeter 42

vii