Development of Drag-Reducing DRnanofluids
with Enhanced Flow and Heat-Transfer  Properties

and

Investigation of Their Thermo-Physical, Flow and Heat-Transfer Characteristics

M. Kostic

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Illinois University

www.kostic.niu.edu/DRnanofluids

Abstract: A collaborative research between Northern Illinois University and Argonne National Laboratory to create and investigate new advanced Drag-Reduction-nanofluids (dubbed DRnanofluids) with an objective to enhance heat-transfer properties and reduce flow friction has been initiated in Summer 2004. Considering unique properties of Drag-Reduction fluids and very promising results with nanofluids obtained in ANL, new potentials and possibly new discoveries are anticipated.

Developing nanofluids with polymer additives (dubbed POLYnanofluids) may have many application possibilities, not only flow-friction reduction, since long-chain polymer molecules may provide an enhanced web-like structure for nanoparticles in base fluids. Thus, DRnanofluids will be a special sub-class of POLYnanofluids. Possible applications in novel fluid/thermal systems, including electronics, nuclear and biomedical instrumentation and equipments, transportation and industrial cooling, and heat management in various critical applications, are promising.

A thesis for a graduate student will be defined to develop POLYnanofluids (including DRnanofluids) by mixing different concentrations of different polymer additives and different nanoparticles in different base fluids, using different preparation methods (to be developed and optimized):

·        Additional additives may and should be used to facilitate development of POLYnanofluids, like surfactant, pH enhancers (or neutralizers), or similar.

·        Different mixing methods under different process parameters should be used and/or developed to facilitate and enhance optimal structural development of POLYnanofluids, with desired thermo-physical properties, and flow and heat-transfer characteristics.

Viscosity of base fluids, nanofluids (base fluids with nanoparticles), polymer-solutions (base fluids with polymer additives), and POLYnanofluids (base fluids with polymer additives and nanoparticles), will be measured at NIU and thermal conductivity at ANL. Additional proposals for external funding for investigation of thermo-physical properties, and flow and heat-transfer characteristics will be developed.

This research may open the road for development of diverse, complex nanofluids with polymer additives, dubbed POLY-nanofluids, with unprecedented application potential.  By studying (and understanding) nanofluids in the lab and nature, using new and available experimental techniques, and by developing computer based models of these fluids and related phenomena, new methods and tools for custom-design of nanofluids with enhanced properties may be developed.