MODELING & ANALYSIS OF LOUVERED FIN RADIATOR WITH NANOFLUIDS USING CFD

Abstract

There is always need for improve automobile thermal management system to attain maximum efficiency
driven by the trend that the automobile powertrain system operates towards higher power output with smaller system
size. The intensified heat dissipation due to the powertrain system needs more efficient cooling solutions. In automobiles
for cooling internal combustion engines, the radiator transfers the heat from the fluid inside to the air outside, thereby
cooling the fluid, which in turn cools the engine. Traditionally forced convection heat transfer is performed to cool
circulating fluid which consists of water or a mixture of water and anti-freezing materials like Ethylene Glycol (EG).
These heat transfer fluids offer low thermal conductivity, with the advancement of nanotechnology, the new generation of
heat transfer fluids called, “NANOFLUIDS” have been developed and researchers found that these fluids offer higher
thermal conductivity compared to that of conventional coolants, which further improve cooling efficiency.
In this research work, the computational analysis tool ANSYS is used to perform a CFD analysis on a radiator
at different mass flow rates, normally radiator has no louvered fins; in this research work, the radiator has louvered fins.
The CFD analysis will be performed for radiator with and without louvered fins. To examine the heat transfer rate using
nanofluids Al2O3. The different concentrations of nanofluids in the range of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7% & 1% of volume
percent of base fluid (Ethylene Glycol (EG), Water, Ethylene Glycol (EG) –Water (EG:W=60:40)) will be modeled by the
addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles into the coolant flows through the radiator. Relevant input data, nanofluids properties
and empirical correlations were obtained from literatures to investigate the heat transfer enhancement of an automotive
car radiator operated with nanofluid-based coolants. The material used for fins of radiator is Aluminium Alloy 6061.
Modeling and Analysis is performed in CFD.