Thermal and Flow Characteristics of Alumina Nanofluids in Microfluidic Systems: A Low-Concentration Study

Authors

  • Lingenthiran Samylingam Centre for Advanced Mechanical and Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia
  • Navid Aslfattahi Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technická 4, 166 07 Prague, Czech Republic
  • Kumaran Kadirgama College of Engineering, Almaaqal University, Basra, 61003, Iraq
  • Devarajan Ramasamy Faculty of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Chee Kuang Kok Centre for Advanced Mechanical and Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia
  • Norazlianie Sazali Faculty of Manufacturing and Mechatronic Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Wan Sharuzi Wan Harun Centre for Automotive Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Malaysia
  • Nor Atiqah Zolpakar Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes, University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • Mohd Fairusham Ghazali Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes, University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37934/arnht.28.1.131144

Keywords:

Microfluidic technologies, Heat transfer, Thermal management, Alumina (Al₂O₃)

Abstract

Microfluidic technologies and nanofluids represent a synergistic combination with significant potential for enhancing heat transfer and thermal management applications. This study investigates the thermal and flow characteristics of a 0.001 wt.% alumina (Al₂O₃)-water nanofluid within a custom-designed serpentine microfluidic channel. The nanofluid was prepared and characterized for its thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific heat, and density. Experimental microfluidic studies, supplemented by numerical simulations, were conducted to evaluate the fluid's behavior under controlled conditions. Results indicated a slight increase in thermal conductivity for the Al₂O₃ nanofluid compared to pure water, with increments ranging from 0.16% at 20°C to 0.30% at 80°C, attributed to enhanced Brownian motion of the nanoparticles. Viscosity measurements revealed marginal increases, suggesting minimal impact on fluid flow dynamics. The microfluidic experiments demonstrated a consistent pressure gradient and laminar flow regime, essential for precise control and efficient thermal management. Temperature contours showed effective heat dissipation, with a steady thermal gradient from the inlet to the outlet. The study concludes that low-concentration Al₂O₃ nanofluids can enhance thermal performance in microfluidic systems without significantly affecting flow characteristics, making them suitable for applications requiring efficient heat dissipation, such as electronic cooling and chemical reactions. These findings provide a foundation for future research into higher nanoparticle concentrations and different base fluids, aimed at optimizing the thermal and flow properties of nanofluids in microfluidic environments. The integration of nanofluids with microfluidic technologies holds promise for advancing the performance and reliability of next-generation thermal management systems.

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Author Biographies

Lingenthiran Samylingam, Centre for Advanced Mechanical and Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia

lingenthiran@mmu.edu.my

Navid Aslfattahi , Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technická 4, 166 07 Prague, Czech Republic

navid.Aslfattahi@fs.cvut.cz

Kumaran Kadirgama, College of Engineering, Almaaqal University, Basra, 61003, Iraq

kumaran@umpsa.edu.my

Devarajan Ramasamy, Faculty of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

deva@umpsa.edu.my

Chee Kuang Kok, Centre for Advanced Mechanical and Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia

ckkok@mmu.edu.my

Norazlianie Sazali , Faculty of Manufacturing and Mechatronic Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

azlianie@umpsa.edu.my

Wan Sharuzi Wan Harun, Centre for Automotive Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Malaysia

sharuzi@umpsa.edu.my

Nor Atiqah Zolpakar, Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes, University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

noratiqahz@umpsa.edu.my

Mohd Fairusham Ghazali, Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid and Processes, University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

fairusham@umpsa.edu.my

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Published

2024-12-15

How to Cite

Samylingam, L. ., Aslfattahi , N. ., Kadirgama, K. ., Ramasamy, D. ., Chee , K. K., Sazali , N., Wan Harun, W. S. ., Zolpakar, N. A. ., & Ghazali, M. F. . (2024). Thermal and Flow Characteristics of Alumina Nanofluids in Microfluidic Systems: A Low-Concentration Study. Journal of Advanced Research in Numerical Heat Transfer, 28(1), 131–144. https://doi.org/10.37934/arnht.28.1.131144

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