An experimental study on thermal characteristics of nanofluid with graphene and multi-wall carbon nanotubes

A. K. M Mahmudul Haque¹, Sunghyun Kwon², Junhyo Kim³, Jungpil Noh⁴, Sunchul Huh⁴, Hanshik Chung⁴, Hyomin Jeong⁴

(1. Department of Ocean System Engineering, Gyeongsang National University,
Cheondaegukchi-Gil 38, Tongyeong, Gyeongnam 650-160, South Korea;
2. Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, Gyeongsang National University,
Cheondaegukchi-Gil 38, Tongyeong, Gyeongnam 650-160, South Korea;
3. Department of Marine Engineering, Mokpo National Maritime University, 61 Dorimiri,
1666 Yeongsan-myeon, South Korea;
4. Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Gyeongsang National University,
Institute of Marine Industry, Cheondaegukchi- Gil 38, Tongyeong, Gyeongnam 650-160, South Korea)

Abstract:High-thermal conductivity enhancement of nanofluid is one of the promising topics of the nanoscience research field. This work reports the experimental study on the preparation of graphene (GN) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) based nanofluids with the assistance of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants, and their thermal behaviors. The present work suggests not a solution, but a solution approach and deduces a new conclusion by trying to resolve the agglomeration problem and improve the dispersibility of nanoparticles in the base fluid. The analysis results of FESEM, thermal conductivity, diffusivity, effusivity and heat transfer coefficient enhancement ratio of nanofluid with surfactants SDS and SDBS expose strong evidence of the dispersing effect of surfactant on the making of nanofluid.

Key words:graphene; carbon nanotube; surfactant; dispersibility; thermal conductivity