Thermal performance investigation of water-based nanofluids in an ice storage system

In this study, the combined effects of heat transfer enhancement and cost increment of water-based nanofluids in an ice storage system are investigated theoretically. First, a model for describing the ice formation process of water around a helical coil is established, and the model is verified by comparing the simulation and experimental results. Second, the heat transfer performance of water-based Al2O3 nanofluids and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) nanofluids with different nanoparticle volume fractions are simulated with the established model. Although 0.05 v.% M/W shows the best heat transfer performance, it has a higher cost. In this study, an economic analysis of these two nanofluids is conducted, and a benchmark based on economic analysis and heat transfer performance analysis is obtained, comparing the ice-making performance of the two nanofluids. Based on the benchmark point E, the ice-making performance of two nanofluids can be separated into three regions: a low-performance region, an economic region, and a heat transfer region. In the low-performance region, the enhancement effect on heat transfer performance is small. In the economic region, A/W is a more ideal ice-making medium. In the heat transfer region, M/W is a more ideal ice-making medium.