Characterization of Silicon Dioxide Nanofluids: Viscosity and Thermal Conductivity Analysis for Hybrid Vehicle Applications

The research introduces the thermal properties of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanofluids and the promising application of these fluids in hybrid vehicle cooling systems. How to make fluids is simply to disperse a 50-50 mixture of both Ethylene Glycol and Water; into this solution add SiO₂ nanoparticles concentration ranges from 0.1% up to 0.5% volume according desired properties or material characteristics etc. When viscosities and thermal conductivities of nanofluid were measured over the temperature range from 25 to 120 °C using Brookfield viscometer and transient hot-wire method; results were as follows: Viscosity of SiO₂ nanofluids at 120°C higher concentrations 0.5%, more viscous fluids, thermal conductivity also rose with results, although there was a plateau at around 40% increase compared to that of water-based slurries. At 0.5% concentration, thermal conductivity increased by up to 20% at 120 °C, compared with the value of pure ethylene glycol. These results suggest that SiO₂ nanofluids can be used to improve heat transport for hybrid vehicle cooling systems and, importantly, they provide a compromise between higher thermal conductivities (although not so great as pure water or silver sloan) and manageable viscosity increases.