Stabilized Nanofluids for Enhanced Combustion Energy

However, aluminum quickly forms an aluminum oxide layer in the presence of oxygen, which does not provide any benefits during combustion.  The aluminum needs stabilization from agglomeration and passivation from oxidation in order to utilize the benefits of adding aluminum nanoparticles to the fuel.  Dispersing PECVD coated aluminum nanoparticles at 3.0% by volume in RP-2 fuel exhibited a 0.9% increase in the volumetric enthalpy of combustion (i.e. energy density) compared to baseline RP-2 fuel.  Furthermore, uncoated aluminum nanoparticles at equivalent concentration exhibited marginal improvement indicating depletion of the aluminum by oxidation.

Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. utilized the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique to stabilize (from agglomeration) and passivate (from oxidation) aluminum nanoparticles for dispersion into liquid fuels.  Aluminum has a higher enthalpy of combustion than liquid hydrocarbon fuels.  Thus, dispersing small quantities of aluminum nanoparticles in fuel will increase the enthalpy of combustion of the nanofuel.

However, aluminum quickly forms an aluminum oxide layer in the presence of oxygen, which does not provide any benefits during combustion.  The aluminum needs stabilization from agglomeration and passivation from oxidation in order to utilize the benefits of adding aluminum nanoparticles to the fuel.  Dispersing PECVD coated aluminum nanoparticles at 3.0% by volume in RP-2 fuel exhibited a 0.9% increase in the volumetric enthalpy of combustion (i.e. energy density) compared to baseline RP-2 fuel.  Furthermore, uncoated aluminum nanoparticles at equivalent concentration exhibited marginal improvement indicating depletion of the aluminum by oxidation.