This research investigates the development of a heat pipe heat exchanger coated
with graphene for cooling and purification of automobile exhausts. The heat
exchanger directly affects the performance of the engine because proper heat
dissipation and transfer can improve engine performance, reduce fuel
consumption, and decrease the emission. Moreover, this effect is much more
noticeable on coated heat pipes because of the enhanced thermal conductivity and
mechanical properties of the graphene films. A heat null emitted by internal
combustion engines was used in the experimental setup to test the thermal
performance, cooling efficiency, and purification efficiency of the newly
designed in-house exhaust simulation system where the new heat pipes were
inserted. The results of the experiment show that the heat pipes have very high
thermal performance as the efficiency of the heat pipes was calculated to be
around 85%. Furthermore, the temperature decrease over the surfaces of the heat
exchanger was measured at 350°C, which means 70% of the exhaust gas temperature
was cooled. The purification efficiency of the heat pipes was approximately 70%
for nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons, all
which are harmful pollutants produced by internal combustion engines. Since
these substances were reduced by about 70%, the results and the use of the
graphene coats demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of such a heat pipe
for emission reduction. Consequently, a graphene-coated heat pipe heat exchanger
is recognized as a highly effective device for enhancing engine performance,
reducing fuel consumption, and promoting more efficient transportation with
lower emissions.