Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NanoCooling (Graphene-based nanofluid for advanced thermal properties)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-01-01 bis 2020-04-30
Among all thermophysical properties, thermal conductivity plays a vital role in most engineering applications as it represents the capability of a material to transfer heat. Therefore, heat removal and management is a major concern for any technology that deals with high power and small size. Growing energy demands, precision manufacturing, miniaturization, nuclear regulations and critical economies demand high-efficient coolants and lubricants.
One of the main reasons for the failure of engine oils is their thermal degradation due to elevated heat conditions. Increasing heat levels which exceed 250 °C at cylinder liner piston ring interfaces in engines lead to various problems such as accelerated decomposition of additives and base oil, increasing volatility, viscosity- index improvers shearing down more rapidly, rupture of oil films, faster abrasion, scuffing conditions, and shortening the life of filters.
NanoCooling is a multiphase cooling system with a base matrix host fluid and a stable dispersion of graphene flakes. Graphene is a major contender to produce high-performance nanofluids given its excellent thermal properties. Thus, IQR has developed stable graphene nanofluids with enhanced thermal properties, suitable for their application in automotive and industry engines.
NanoCooling shows best-in-class heat exchange performance (1.2 - 2 W/mK). The enhanced thermal conductive behaviour with only 1.5 – 2% of graphene makes the resultant coolant cost-effective and competitive. Using NanoCooling for an internal combustion engine, it is possible to obtain up to 20°C
lower working temperature. This considerable drop of the operation temperature will allow IQR to position our product quickly as the most efficient coolant liquids commercially available. Moreover, the lifespan of engines will be extended preventing them from overheating.
The objective is to build and start-up a medium scale production process in our own facilities, leveraging our know-how and installations suitable and capable for this process, similar to the line for producing our current lubricants. The major challenge is to design the production process for bulk production which entails several scaling challenges related to the dispersion and optimisation itself.
One of the main reasons for the failure of engine oils is their thermal degradation due to elevated heat conditions. Increasing heat levels which exceed 250 °C at cylinder liner piston ring interfaces in engines lead to various problems such as accelerated decomposition of additives and base oil, increasing volatility, viscosity- index improvers shearing down more rapidly, rupture of oil films, faster abrasion, scuffing conditions, and shortening the life of filters.
NanoCooling is a multiphase cooling system with a base matrix host fluid and a stable dispersion of graphene flakes. Graphene is a major contender to produce high-performance nanofluids given its excellent thermal properties. Thus, IQR has developed stable graphene nanofluids with enhanced thermal properties, suitable for their application in automotive and industry engines.
NanoCooling shows best-in-class heat exchange performance (1.2 - 2 W/mK). The enhanced thermal conductive behaviour with only 1.5 – 2% of graphene makes the resultant coolant cost-effective and competitive. Using NanoCooling for an internal combustion engine, it is possible to obtain up to 20°C
lower working temperature. This considerable drop of the operation temperature will allow IQR to position our product quickly as the most efficient coolant liquids commercially available. Moreover, the lifespan of engines will be extended preventing them from overheating.
The objective is to build and start-up a medium scale production process in our own facilities, leveraging our know-how and installations suitable and capable for this process, similar to the line for producing our current lubricants. The major challenge is to design the production process for bulk production which entails several scaling challenges related to the dispersion and optimisation itself.
To have a successful market uptake and establish the desired leading position, it is essential to strategically plan a feasible and realistic roadmap for the next 2 years’ work to optimize our technology and to attain industrial production scale, taking into account a detailed risk assessment and a mitigation plan accordingly. From a commercial perspective we have assessed the best go-to-market strategy in terms of investment required, geographic issues, timing, breakeven and ROI to elaborate a 5-year business plan.
1) Technical Feasibility Study for the elaboration of a detailed plan for the optimization and scale-up of NanoCooling production process, defining equipment required including life cycle analysis of NanoCooling products; (2) Thorough commercialisation roadmap, including differentiation / prioritisation among different end-users; (3) Supply chain development; (4) freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis and further patentability study, and (5) Business Plan to assess the long-term financial viability of our project (profit potential), to establish NanoCooling commercialization + implementation strategy.
1) Technical Feasibility Study for the elaboration of a detailed plan for the optimization and scale-up of NanoCooling production process, defining equipment required including life cycle analysis of NanoCooling products; (2) Thorough commercialisation roadmap, including differentiation / prioritisation among different end-users; (3) Supply chain development; (4) freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis and further patentability study, and (5) Business Plan to assess the long-term financial viability of our project (profit potential), to establish NanoCooling commercialization + implementation strategy.
Currently, most heat exchanger systems use water, hydroalcoholic mixtures or oil. These three traditional options are low or very low heat transfer fluids with thermal conductivities of 0.61 0.25 and 0.145 W·m-1·K-1, for water, ethylene glycol and oil, respectively. Until now, these three liquids are the most frequently used solutions because they are cheap, easily accessible and in the case of low demanding tasks, they are effective. Nevertheless, for some applications the equipment size or weight, and/or the process time are too high, and it is therefore necessary to seek alternatives.
The use of different grades of graphene to prepare aqueous colloidal suspensions offer the best option from a performance point of view and effectiveness one. Currently, the cost of graphene is not too high, and at low dosage, around 2%, the selling price of the nanofluid could be competitive. On the other hand, graphene colloidal solutions are lubricants and stable in a wide range of pH, therefore the corrosion and erosion problems of metal oxide based nanofluids should not appear. And finally, the use of graphene nanofluids is an improvement from CFC’s regarding care for the environment.
The use of different grades of graphene to prepare aqueous colloidal suspensions offer the best option from a performance point of view and effectiveness one. Currently, the cost of graphene is not too high, and at low dosage, around 2%, the selling price of the nanofluid could be competitive. On the other hand, graphene colloidal solutions are lubricants and stable in a wide range of pH, therefore the corrosion and erosion problems of metal oxide based nanofluids should not appear. And finally, the use of graphene nanofluids is an improvement from CFC’s regarding care for the environment.