Investigations on boiling-induced nanoparticle coating, transient characteristics, and effect of pressure in pool boiling heat transfer on a cylindrical surface

Abstract

Pool boiling experiments were conducted to study the heat transfer characteristics using low concentrations (0.0015 to 0.0077 vol%) of CuO nanofluids at and above atmospheric pressure in distilled water. The study included the following. (i) effect of pressure and concentration on heat transfer using CuO nanoparticles in distilled water, (ii) investigations on nanoparticle coating formed due to boiling-induced precipitation tested in CuO nanofluid and distilled water, and (iii) pool boiling behavior of CuO nanofluid subject to transient characteristics. The experimental outcome indicated that different concentrations of nanofluids display different degrees of deterioration in boiling heat transfer coefficients at and above atmospheric pressure. Boiling-induced precipitation of nanoparticles resulted in coating of nanoparticles. When tested in pure water, the nanoparticle-coated heater showed significant increase in critical heat flux compared with the critical heat flux of a bare heater tested in pure water. Study of the transient characteristics indicated degradation in boiling heat transfer due to prolonged exposure of the heater surface in nanofluid. Based on the experimental investigations, it can be concluded that nanoparticle coating can also be a potential substitute for enhancing the heat transfer if used in controlled quantities. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.