Application of aluminum oxide nanofluids in diesel electric generator as jacket water coolant

This paper presents a study on nanofluids applications, such as a coolant in a diesel electric generator (DEG). Specific heat measurements of aluminum oxide nanofluid with various particle concentrations have been presented demonstrating a reduction in their values with an increase in the particle concentration and an increase with temperature. Experiments were performed on the DEG to assess the effect of nanofluids on cogeneration efficiency. The investigation showed that applying nanofluids resulted in a reduction of cogeneration efficiency. This is due to the decrease in specific heat, which influences the waste heat recovery from the engine. However, it was found that the efficiency of waste heat recovery heat exchanger increased for nanofluid, due to its superior convective heat transfer coefficient. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.