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Dr. Emmanuel Nsofor
Fluid
dynamics properties and performance of nanofluids
(nanoparticles-in-liquids) (Emmanuel
Nsofor – Engineering). Novel high power
technologies have been
developed that utilize smaller feature sizes and are packed into
constrained
spaces, thus requiring smaller heat transfer systems.
Recently, a new class of heat transfer fluids
(HTFs) called nanofluids was discovered. A nanofluid is a solid-liquid
mixture
produced by dispersing metallic nanoparticles in a liquid to enhance
the heat
transfer performance. The size of the
nanoparticles (usually less than 50 nm) results in enhanced thermal
conductivity of the base fluid. These
nanofluids have substantially higher thermal conductivities
compared to their base fluids and do not match the values predicted
from
existing theories. Thus, further research is necessary on the theories
underlying the HT mechanisms in nanofluids. Understanding
nanofluids will have a remarkable
impact in many sectors,
especially transportation and energy systems; designers will be able to
reduce
the size of cooling components leading to smaller and lighter thermal
systems,
lower costs and a cleaner environment. Also,
the principles of magnetic nanoparticles in
biofluids can be
applied in drug delivery or other novel medical treatments.
Our research
seeks to develop new
reliable cooling and thermal management methods through analytical and
experimental investigations. Current
focus on nanofluids research is divided into two areas, namely (1)
investigations on the properties and performance of nanofluids, and (2)
generation of knowledge on the fundamentals of energy transport with
nanofluids. Our focus is on the fluid dynamics and the mechanisms of
heat
transfer in nanofluids for the stationary two-phase fluid and flow in
conduits,
which is essential for heat exchanger applications.
A system has been developed to study forced
convection nanofluid dynamics in circular pipe flow. REU students will
take part in further design and experimental
studies. Experiments will mainly be on the laminar and turbulent forced
convection of nanofluid flow in constant temperature and constant heat
flux
heat exchangers. Measurements will be
made via a data acquisition system. They
may also work with technicians in the fabrication shop using hand and
machine
tools for construction. The tools may
include,
drill presses, arc cutting and welding machines, grinders, soldering
equipment,
power hand tools, sheet metal tools, and assorted shop tools.
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