Investigation of thermal conductivity and thermal performance of heat pipes by structurally designed copolymer stabilized ZnO nanofluid

Abstract

Abstract The present study concentrated on estimating the thermal conductivity, stability, efficiency, and resistance of a heat pipe for heat exchangers, which were essential for many industrial applications. To achieve this, copolymer of amphiphilic poly (styrene-co-2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) poly (STY-co-AMPS) was synthesized by free radical polymerisation technique. The dispersant were used for homogeneous solution and stabilization of ZnO nanofluids. The effect of dispersant on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids was analysed using a KD2 pro thermal property analyser. There is a significant increase in fluid conductivity had a nonlinear relationship with the volume fraction. The maximum enhancement was observed at an optimized concentration of dispersant at 1.5 vol%. Same time, the influence of dispersant agent on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids were compared with linear polyelectrolytes. Further, the experimental values were compared to the existing classical models based on the reasonable aggrement, the prepared nanofluids were employed as a working medium. The conventional screen mesh heat pipe and the temperature distribution to the thermal resistance of the heat pipe was investigated experimentally. The result shows, optimum concentration of dispersants on nanoparticles exhibits an enhanced heat efficiency as compared with the base fluids. Further, the thermal resistance and temperature distribution show decreased behaviour by increasing the particle volume fraction and dispersant concentration.