Effect of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Based Nanofluids on Marine Gas Turbine Intercooler Performance

Abstract

Coolants play a major role in the performance of heat exchanging systems. In a marine gas turbine engine, an intercooler is used to reduce the compressed gas temperature between the compressor stages. The thermophysical properties of the coolant running within the intercooler directly influence the level of enhancement in the performance of the unit. Therefore, employing working fluids of exceptional thermal properties is beneficial for improving performance in such applications, compared to conventional fluids. This paper investigates the effect of utilizing nanofluids for enhancing the performance of a marine gas turbine intercooler. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-water with nanofluids at 0.01–0.10 vol % concentration were produced using a two-step controlled-temperature approach ranging from 10 °C to 50 °C. Next, the thermophysical properties of the as-prepared suspensions, such as density, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and viscosity, were characterized. The intercooler performance was then determined by employing the measured data of the MWCNTs-based nanofluids thermophysical properties in theoretical formulae. This includes determining the intercooler effectiveness, heat transfer rate, gas outlet temperature, coolant outlet temperature, and pumping power. Finally, a comparison between a copper-based nanofluid from the literature with the as-prepared MWCNTs-based nanofluid was performed to determine the influence of each of these suspensions on the intercooler performance.

Application of Nanofluids in Gas Turbine and Intercoolers—A Comprehensive Review

“…Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are tubular carbon-based allotropes that can be produced from graphitic carbon and used in nanofluids for heat transfer applications. There are different types of CNTS, single-walled graphene cylinders (SWCNTs), double-walled (DWCNT) consisting of two nested cylinders, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of several nested cylinders [ 139 , 140 ]. CNTs can be produced by decomposition of carbon-containing compounds such as C 2 H 2 , CH 4 , C 2 H 4 or C 2 H 6 , over metal particles (catalysts), with growth occurring at the base or the tip of the tube in a needle-like structure.…”

Graphene-Based Nanofluids: Production Parameter Effects on Thermophysical Properties and Dispersion Stability

“…In addition, the higher viscosity of nanofluids compared to that of the base fluid also needs to be taken into account, especially when these suspensions are targeted toward applications that utilize them in their dynamic status. This is mainly because the pumping power requirement will eventually increase with the increase in the working fluid viscosity, and vice versa [ 23 ]. Obviously, the greater the concentration of nanoparticles, the greater the increase in thermal conductivity, but this would also result in increasing the viscosity of the suspension.…”

Совершенствование Конструкции Теплообменных Установок На Основе Методов Интенсификации Теплообмена

“…В последнее время проводятся многочисленные исследования, связанные с эффективностью применения наножидкостей в энергетических установках, в циклах ГТУ, в том числе с промежуточным теплоносителем. Показано, что наножидкость на основе графитовых нанотрубок увеличивает эффективность работы прямоточного теплообменника до 2% в диапазоне температур до 500 С (10). Возможность применения наножидкостей с целью улучшения тепловых характеристик теплообменных устройств проверена и подтверждена в экспериментальных исследованиях.…”