(557i) Thermal properties and heat transfer analysis of Al2O3 as a nano particle dispersed in the base mixture of Therminol VP -1 and Water

This paper presents multi-parameter investigation of Nano HTF with Al₂O₃ as a nano particles dispersed in the base material, Therminol VP-1 and water mixture (50/50 vol.%). In this paper, it was studied the effect of different volume fraction of nanoparticle dispersed in to the base HTF, Therminol VP-1 and water mixture. Nano-fluid sample is characterized by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) imaging, particle surface charge (zeta potential), particle aggregate size, light absorbance and PH. Dispersed particle aggregate size measure by particle analyzer based on the dynamic light scattering technique. The results show multiple perspective correlations between nano fluid characteristics and thermal properties. Al₂O₃ properties are very close to desired properties of heat transfer fluid properties and it is cheaper. Its thermal conductivity also higher than those of the conventional heat transfer fluids. It was found experimentally that there is significant improvement in thermal conductivity and considerable lowering of viscosity of Nano HTF which is the main requirement of heat transfer fluid for solar thermal applications.

Key words: Therminol VP-1, NEOHTF, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Al₂O_3.