Feasibility studies on nano-refrigerants for cooling of micro-electronic devices

With the increase in demand for higher efficiency of microelectronic devices, requirement of micro heat exchangers is increasing very rapidly. Due to low pressure drop, low thermal resistances, high heat performance, less requirement of coolant and small geometry the application of these devices is enhancing in transportation, biomedical, automobile industries and space applications. These micro heat exchangers are manufactured by MEMS (micro-electro mechanical system). Hence, high heat transfer of these exchangers can be achieved by using the nanofluid. In the present work, dispersion of Alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticle in Liquid Nitrogen (LN₂) is studied with the volume concentration ranging from 1 to 5%. Moreover, thermophysical properties such as density, viscosity, thermal conductivity and specific heat are calculated between 60 to 100 K for evaporator and condenser. It is observed that thermal conductivity of nanofluid (Basefluid + Nanoparticles) is enhancing with the increase in volume concentration of nanoparticles which is desirable property in enhancing the heat transfer between micro-electronic devices and the microheat exchanger.