The Automotive Research Center®

Synthesis of Graphene based Nano fluids & their

Impact on Automobile’s Cooling Performance
Tayyab ul Islam

The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of indigenously synthesized graphene Nano fluids on automobile radiator performance.
This research work can lead us to more optimized, effective and light weight automobile cooling system which can result better fuel economy
and more aerodynamic car shapes.

Introduction

This poster presents the workflow fallowed in synthesizing Gra-

Mixing in Addition of surfactant and
phene based Nano fluid in different base fluid (water/Ethylene water/1ethylene gly- ultra sonication
col 3
glycol) using two step technique. The engineered Nano fluid are
Increase sonication time
then used in a Cross flow Heat exchanger Test bench at different and Surfactant volume
fraction
volume fraction and flow rates. It is hypothesized that graphene Visual Inspection of Nano fluid
Synthesis of Graphene Unstable Fluid Stability over time
due to its very high thermal conductivity can show significant in- Nano Powder
100% particle settle 4
1
down before 72 hrs.
crease in heat transfer and its performance at different flow rates 5

and volume fraction will be focus of this research.

Reducing particle
size
Motivation 6

World is going towards smart cars.

Less than 10% particles
settle-down after 72 hrs.
8
Required high level of heat transfer.

Radiator to be redesigned (compact). Use Nano fluid in Engine test bench

& estimate improvement in perfor-
For same performance fluid must give high efficiency. mance

Current fluid or two phase mixtures failed to do the task so we Figure 1: Experimental Process
(require Nano fluid)

Chevrolet Car using Nano fluid

Technique

The Graphene Nano Fluid will be synthesized using Modified-

Hummers' Method using Graphite oxide as raw material the Nano

powder is then characterized by XRD,SEM and TEM. The Pow-

der is then mixes in conventional base fluid at volume fractions of

1%, 2% and 6%. The stability of fluid will be inspected visually

after 3 hours of ultra-sonication and magnetic stirring. To enhance

stability of fluid surfactant like Sodium dodecyl benzenesulpho-

nate (SDBS) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) may be used in Figure 2: Optimized cooling system by using Nano fluid

volume fractions of less than 0.1% of base fluid.

Prepared Nano fluid will be used in car radiator test bench at con-

stant incoming air velocity and varying Nano fluid flow rate at a

temperature range of (50oC-120oC) at all volume fractions men-

tioned above. The heat transfer rate between fluids will be esti-

mated using log mean temperature difference method. Efficiency

of Heat exchanger using Nano fluid will be estimated by diving

heat transfer rate measured by using log mean temperature differ-

ence method with maximum available heat transfer potential in

fluid.

Results

Initial experiment mentation that superior thermal conductivity of (a) (b) (c)
(a)Freshly Prepared Nano fluid, (b) Nano fluid after 24 hrs. (c) Nano fluid after 72 hrs.
Graphene can lead towards a cooler future for automobiles with
Figure 3: Visual Inspection of Nano fluid stability
much smaller size of radiators moreover the stability of Nano flu-

id is a great concern in order to achieve maximum benefit of Gra-

phene.

Conclusion
Nano fluid is the only solution for the cooling needs of rapidly

emerging smart cars that require compact cooling system.

Stability of Nano fluid is a great challenge in order to use them at

their full potential.

There is a need to develop techniques for cheaper and more stable

Nano fluids.

Acknowledgements
This multidisciplinary work is supported by a USAID Post gradu-
ate subject based scholarship program

Figure 4: Test Bench Schematic Diagram

Contact: tayyabulislam.pg@smme.edu.pk