Experimental study on thermal performance of optimum PG brine as a radiator coolant

Abstract

The present study deals with the experimental impact of an alternative heat transfer fluids for overall performance improvement for radiators. Water and water mixed with anti‐freezing agents such as ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG) are the traditional coolants for an automotive radiator. Comparison of experimental and numerical analysis of optimum brine solution, that is 25% of propylene glycol and water as coolant for the rectangular fin radiator, has been well discussed. A closed loop test rig was designed, and fabricated with a wind tunnel section to achieve uniform velocity at the test section of the rectangular radiator and was tested for performance. Experimental runs were conducted at varying operating temperatures which included the runs for water, and an optimum propylene glycol brine solutions at 70 °C and 80 °C with various flow rates. Results show the energy performance of an optimum brine solution was nearly similar to that of water at high temperatures. The Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient, and heat transfer rate for an optimum propylene glycol brine is nearly the same as water at 80 °C with a maximum deviation of 15%, 5.7%, and 6.6%, respectively, for theoretical and experimental result comparisons. Air side and coolant side pressure drops had a maximum deviation of 3.66% and 6.6%, respectively. Air and coolant exit temperatures had a deviation of 5% and 3.5%, respectively, with an air frontal velocity of 4.6 m/s in a rectangular fin radiator for an optimum brine solution used as coolant for the automotive radiator. The optimum propylene glycol brine may be environmentally beneficial.

Viscosity and thermal conductivity comparative study for hybrid nanofluid in binary base fluids

“…For implementing the theoretical analysis, an engineering equation solver code is developed to study the comparative results of thermal conductivity and viscosity for Al 2 O 3 /CuO hybrid nanofluid in EG and PG binary base fluids. Thermophysical properties of EG and PG considered from at different temperatures. In‐build subroutines have been used for the temperature dependent properties of water, EG (for nanofluid also) and PG.…”

“…Therefore the thermophysical study is carried out on Al 2 O 3 –CuO (50%‐50%)/water‐EG/PG at lower particle volume fraction and at a higher temperature for different shape by varying the EG/PG concentration to ensure the fluid to be used as a cooling agent. Sahoo et al investigated the application of various coolants for wavy and louvered fin radiator applications and concluded that the performance enhancement in the radiator is higher for spherical shape hybrid nanofluids compared to EG, PG brine coolants.…”

The effect of different coolants on emissions and fuel consumption of a diesel engine

“…To experimentally study heat transfer, Yu et al [17] used a water and glycol/water mixture with a volume ratio of 40/60 or 50/50 in a specially designed and manufactured test facility that simulates the heating conditions of the coolant passage in the cylinder head area of a heavy-duty vehicle engine, and found that the heat transfer performance of the coolant decreases as the concentration of the medium increases. Sahoo et al [18] developed a new high-efficiency coolant with propylene glycol as the base fluid, used it to conduct experiments on a specially designed experimental bench, the optimum propylene glycol brine has the similar heat transfer performance as water at 80 °C.…”