Heat transfer and quench performance of aqueous CuO nanofluids during immersion quenching

Abstract

The present work involves the assessment of quench performance of aqueous-copper oxide nanofluids. Distilled water-based copper oxide nanofluids of concentrations 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 1.0 vol.% were prepared by a two-step process. Cooling curves analysis was carried out using an inconel probe that was instrumented with thermocouples. The recorded temperature data during experiments was used to estimate spatiotemporal heat flux transients by solving inverse heat conduction problem. Quenching of probe in nanofluids resulted in longer vapour phase stage duration compared to distilled water. The addition of nanoparticles altered the peak flux and the time of its occurrence. Rewetting temperatures were found to be lower for nanofluids. The measured thermal conductivities and viscosities showed similar values for all quench media. © 2016 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.