Term of Award
Fall 2025
Degree Name
Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Committee Chair
Valentin Soloiu
Committee Member 1
Marcel Ilie
Committee Member 2
Mosfequr Rahman
Abstract
Heat-exchanging systems are essential in applications ranging from automobiles to air-conditioning units, and ongoing improvements aim to enhance efficiency while reducing system size. Conventional coolant upgrades often rely on ethylene glycol, which increases thermal stability and lowers freezing point but reduces water’s inherent heat-transfer capability. Advances in nanotechnology provide an alternative approach: suspending nanoparticles in base fluids can significantly modify thermal properties, with some formulations exhibiting conductivity increases of up to 60%. This thesis examines the thermal and tribological performance of three working fluids—distilled water, a 50:50 water–ethylene glycol mixture, and the same mixture enhanced with Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. Distilled water showed the highest heat-transfer coefficient at 1,504.9 , with strong convective behavior but limited thermal stability. The 50:50 blend improved environmental robustness yet reduced heat-transfer performance to 1,147.4 due to lower thermal conductivity and specific heat. The Al₂O₃ nanofluid provided the most balanced performance, achieving a heat-transfer coefficient of 1,359.6 and a heat-transfer rate nearly equivalent to distilled water while recovering ~37.7% of the thermal losses seen in the glycol blend. Rheological testing of the nanofluid at 24°C confirmed shear-thinning behavior, a favorable trait for efficient flow and pumping in thermal systems. Tribological evaluation of copper, aluminum, galvanized steel, and stainless steel revealed that stainless steel exhibited the highest wear resistance, while aluminum showed the greatest surface degradation. Overall, the findings support Al₂O₃ nanofluids as a promising enhancement to traditional coolants, offering improved thermal performance, favorable flow characteristics, and material compatibility for advanced engineering heat-exchange systems.
OCLC Number
1561112865
Recommended Citation
McKinney, Levi P., "An Investigative Study Of Thermal Fluid Properties When Introducing Metallic Nanoparticles Through A Heat Exchanging System" (2025).
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
