Heat Transfer Enhancement Prediction of Automobile Radiator with Addition of Nano-Fluids through CFD

Recent years, researches are more focused on various enhancement methods for compact heat exchangers without altering the surface area of the heat exchangers. The advancements in the area of Nano fluids with better thermal properties have helped in development of light-weight, highly efficient automobile radiators. The main objective of this project is to increase the thermal performance of the radiator and thereby reducing the size of the radiator. In this project a numerical model with porous medium approach was developed and validated. Nano fluids (Aluminium oxide, Copper oxide, Graphite) of different volumes (ranging from 1%-13% in an interval of 2) are used along with water and it was observed that the heat transfer rate of the radiator is increased by 4.49% and the volume of the radiator is reduced by 5.4% for the addition of 5% of Aluminium oxide in water. Similarly, for 5% of Copper oxide the heat transfer rate is increased by 4.53% and the volume of the radiator is reduced by 5.6%, and for 5% of graphite the heat transfer rate is increased by 4.36% and the volume of radiator is reduced by 5.4%. From this project it was concluded that the addition of the Nano fluids helps to achieve the same heat transfer rate with small frontal area of the radiator.