Thermal transport in Nanofluids

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Hongwei Sun, Mechanical Engineering

Nanofluids is an emerging new class of thermal fluids for future thermal transport and energy saving due to its unique characteristics such as large surface-to-volume ratio, strong Brownian motion, low particle loading (<5%) and high thermal conductivity. Numerous experimental evidences have shown that this nanoparticle-in-fluids like DI water, Ethylene Glycol (EG), Tulane can improve the thermal conductivity by up to 40%, and the oil dispersed by nanotubes can increase the thermal conductivity up to 150% Nano tech is a very promising field and the current focus of the world. The study on it has covered chemical physics, interfacial phenomena, heat and mass transfer and some fundamental fields. This new material will accompany the advancing of future engineering and science development.