Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Efficiency in Automotive Radiator Heat Transfer Systems

Abstract

Enhancing heat transfer in automotive radiators is a matter of concern in the automotive industry. Accordingly, the role of using oxide nanoparticles in various heat exchangers has been extensively studied. However, fewer studies addressed the role of these nanoparticles in radiators. In the present study, copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by recycling the spent batteries as copper-rich sources, which is a rather inexpensive and environmentally friendly method of preventing electronic waste production. Subsequently, a homemade singletube heat exchanger apparatus was designed to perform a series of nanofluid heat transfer experiments using the response surface methodology. The performance of copper oxide nanofluid heat transfer effects was investigated using varying Reynolds numbers in the range of 2000 to 12,000, volume fractions in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 %, and inlet temperature of the nanofluid between 30 and 40 degrees C. The results indicated that the Nusselt number increases with the enhancement of nanoparticle concentration, Reynolds number, and temperature. The optimal Nusselt number of 123.4 was observed at a temperature of 40 degrees C, volume concentration of 0.3 %, and Reynolds number of 12,000. The quadratic model demonstrated the best correlation for the Nusselt number, with mean squared error, root mean squared error, and correlation coefficient values of 3.589, 1.894, and 0.9901, respectively. Under such conditions, a satisfactory fit between the experimental data and the proposed rela- tionship was achieved with deviation in the range of +2.1051 and- 2.8369. The corresponding maximum positive and negative errors were 8.0895 and- 10.6169, respectively. The obtained results confirm that the proposed method is not only cost-effective but is also advantageous from environmental considerations.