Abstract
This paper presents an experimental investigation regarding the use of solid nanoparticles added to water as a working fluid. Tests were made on a cylindrical heat pipe. The experiment was performed in order to measure the temperature distribution and compare the heat transfer rate of the heat pipe with nanofluid and with DI-water. The two tilt angles of the testing heat pipe are °45 and °90(vertical). The iron oxide nanoparticles were obtained by the laser pyrolysis technique. The tested concentration level of nanoparticles is 0%, 2% and 5.3%. Results show that the addition of 5.3% (by volume) of iron oxide nanoparticles in water enhancement of the heat pipe performance expressed by of the performance curves (heat transfer rate as a function of the mean temperature difference).
Keywords: Heat pipe, nanoparticles, heat transfer rate.