Study on the Thermal Conductivity and Viscosity of Ethanol with Carbon Nanotubes for the Development of a Heat Pipe Working Fluid

히트파이프 작동유체 개발을 위한 에탄올-탄소나노튜브 나노유체의 열전도도 및 점도 특성 연구

Nanofluids using Carbon Nanotubes have a excellent thermal characteristic. In this study, for increasing the efficiency of solar collector, the thermal conductivity and viscosity of Ethanol-Oxidized Multi-walled Carbon Nanofluids were measured. Nanofluids were manufactured by ultra-sonic dispersing Oxidized Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes(OMWCNTs) in ethanol at the rates of 0.0005 ~ 0.1 vol%. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of manufactured nanofluids were measured at the low temperature($10^{\circ}C$), the room temperature($25^{\circ}C$) and the high temperature($70^{\circ}C$). For measuring thermal conductivity and viscosity, we used transient hot-wire method and rotational digital viscometer, respectively. As a result, under given temperature conditions, thermal conductivity of the 0.1 vol% nanofluids improved 33.74% ($10^{\circ}C$), 33.14% ($25^{\circ}C$) and 32.36% ($70^{\circ}C$), and its viscosity increased by 37.93% ($10^{\circ}C$), 31.92% ($25^{\circ}C$) and 29.42% ($70^{\circ}C$) than the base fluids.