A comprehensive study of the thermophysical and rheological properties of ZrO2 based nanofluids as geothermal fluids

Geothermal heat pump systems in residential and commercial applications have become popular in many countries over the past years. The heat transfer performance of the ground heat exchangers in these systems has still room for improvement since they have huge influence on the overall efficiency. Likewise, new heat transfer fluids with enhanced properties, known as nanofluids, have been proposed as a potential solution to substitute the conventional working fluids and to improve the heat transfer processes and performance. A reliable and appropriated proposal of nanofluids for a particular application must include a complete fluid dynamic characterization including thermophysical, rheological, heat transfer coefficients, and pressure drops analysis, as well as physical or chemical characterization of the nanomaterial. In this study, a novel proposal of propylene glycol: water (10:90 vol%)-based zirconium oxide nanofluids of different nanoparticle mass concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, and 5.0 wt%) as possible geothermal working fluids and their thermophysical and rheological characterization are performed. Thus, the nanopowder was extensively investigated by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-Ray diffraction, and Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy obtaining the shape, size distribution, d-spacing, electron diffraction pattern, and crystallinity. Then, thermal conductivities, dynamic viscosities, densities, and isobaric heat capacities for base fluid and nanofluids were measured by transient hot wire, rotational rheometry, vibrating tube, and differential scanning calorimetry methods, respectively. Increases in thermal conductivity, dynamic viscosity, and density of the nanofluids up to 2.8%, 13%, and 4.1% were found, respectively, while decreases in heat capacity reached 11% in comparison to the base fluid. Different models and equations were also employed to analyse the experimental data.

Automated summary

Geothermal heat pump systems are popular in residential and commercial applications, but the heat transfer performance of the ground heat exchangers still has room for improvement. Nanofluids have been proposed as a potential solution to improve heat transfer processes. In this study, zirconium oxide nanofluids with different nanoparticle mass concentrations were characterized for their thermophysical and rheological properties as possible geothermal working fluids.