International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

Efficient thermal management is essential for maintaining the performance and reliability of automotive cooling systems. Conventional coolants such as water and water–ethylene glycol mixtures are widely used in radiators; however, their limited thermal conductivity restricts heat dissipation under increasing thermal loads. This study investigates the performance of an automotive radiator using various nanofluid combinations as alternative coolants. Nanoparticles with superior thermal properties are dispersed in a base fluid to enhance heat transfer characteristics without requiring major modifications to the radiator structure. A radiator evaluation framework was established and constructed for the purpose of analyzing the effects of various nanofluids on several important operational characteristics, including but not limited to, heat transfer rate; total heat transfer coefficient; radiator effectiveness; pressure drop; pumping power, etc. The results of the comparative analysis showed that nanofluids had the capacity to improve thermal performance through enhancing the ability of the coolant to transfer heat from the radiator to its surroundings. However, the findings also indicate that an increasing number of nanoparticles may increase resistance to flow, indicating that optimum concentrations of nanoparticles should be used to achieve maximum thermal performance at a hydraulic performance level which meets or exceeds acceptable limits. Therefore, with careful selection criteria for both types of nanofluids to use, the combination of any two types of nanofluids will greatly improve radiator performance while still achieving a hydraulic performance level that is considered acceptable, indicating that nanofluids are viable alternatives for use in developing advanced cooling systems for automotive and industrial applications.

Swapnil Sawant, Gaurav Deshmukh, Shriharsh Deshmukh, Mansi Datey, Avinash Jadhav,"Performance Assessment of Radiator Using Various Combinations of Nanofluids as Coolant" International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, V9(3): Page(2301-2306) May-June 2026. ISSN: 2581-7175. www.ijsred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.