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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM63634
Volume:
10 |
5 |
May 2026
Pages:
1-4
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Nadimpalli Satyanarayanaraju Institute of Technology, Sontyam, A.P., India
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Nadimpalli Satyanarayanaraju Institute of Technology, Sontyam, A.P., India
Nanofluids are widely studied for their ability to improve heat transfer performance by enhancing the thermo-physical properties of conventional base fluids. This study focuses on the performance of Al₂O₃ (Aluminum Oxide) and CuO (Copper Oxide) nanoparticles dispersed in silicone oil at different mixing proportions to enhance its thermo-physical properties. Silicone oil is selected as the base fluid due to its excellent thermal stability, high boiling point, and insulating characteristics, though its low thermal conductivity limits its efficiency in advanced cooling applications. In this investigation, Al₂O₃ and CuO nanoparticles are mixed with silicone oil at varying proportions of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0% by volume concentration to prepare stable nanofluid samples. The prepared nanofluids are experimentally analyzed to evaluate changes in thermal conductivity, viscosity, density, and specific heat capacity under different temperature conditions. Results show that increasing nanoparticle concentration improves thermal conductivity significantly, with CuO-based nanofluids exhibiting greater enhancement compared to Al₂O₃ due to its inherently higher thermal conductivity matrix. However, higher mixing proportions also increase viscosity, which may affect fluid flow and pumping efficiency. The study concludes that the addition of Al₂O₃ and CuO nanoparticles in optimized mixing proportions can effectively enhance the thermophysical properties of silicone oil. Among the tested samples, an intermediate concentration provides the best balance between thermal performance improvement and acceptable flow behavior, making these nanofluids promising for transformer cooling, electronic thermal management, and industrial heat transfer systems.
KEYWORDS
This investigation experimentally analyzed the thermal conductivity and viscosity profiles of Al₂O₃ and CuO nanoparticles stably dispersed within an insulating silicone oil base fluid. The core conclusions are summarized below: · Stable silicone oil-based nanofluids were successfully synthesized up to a 1.0% volume fraction via a refined two-step technique utilizing 4 hours of continuous high-power probe ultrasonication. · Thermal conductivity increased monotonically with higher particle loading. CuO nanofluids demonstrated a superior enhancement profile over Al₂O₃, reaching a maximum thermal conductivity of 0.166 W/m·K at 1.0% volume concentration. · An unavoidable growth in dynamic viscosity was observed at elevated concentrations due to standard fluid layer shear resistance and increased solid phase friction. · Optimizing the particle loading at an intermediate concentration range (0.5% to 0.75% vol) provides the most balanced thermodynamic design, rendering these fluids highly viable for advanced transformer core cooling, industrial heat exchangers, and high-temperature solar thermic collection applications.
[1] Chen L, Xie H. Silicon oil based multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanofluid with optimized thermal conductivity enhancement. Colloids Surf A: Physicochem Eng Asp 2009;352(1):136–40. [2] Chih-Hung Lo, Tsing-Tshih Tsung, Liang-Chia Chen, Shape-controlled synthesis of Cu-based nanofluid using submerged arc nanoparticle synthesis system (SANSS), Journal of Crystal Growth. [3] Chevalier J, Tillement O, Ayela F. Rheological properties of nanofluids flowing through microchannels. Appl Phys Lett 2007;91(23), [233103]. [4] Xuan Y and Li Q. 2021 Heat Transfer Enhancement of Nanofluids. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow. 21: 158-164. [5] Keblinski P., Philpot S. R., Choi S. U. S. and Eastman J. A. 2015. Mechanisms of heat flow in suspensions of nano-sized particles (nanofluids). International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 45: 855-863. [6] Wen Dongsheng and Ding Yulong (2010), Experimental Investigation convective heat transfer of nano fluids at the entrance region under laminar flow conditions, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer, 47, 5181-5188.
Publication Date
5/21/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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