Temperature-dependent effect of percolation and Brownian motion on the thermal conductivity of TiO2–ethanol nanofluids

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 15363-15368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Cheng Li ◽  
Nga Yu Hau ◽  
Yuechen Wang ◽  
Ai Kah Soh ◽  
Shien-Ping Feng

Ethanol-based nanofluids have attracted much attention due to the enhancement in heat transfer and their potential applications in nanofluid-type fuels and thermal storage.

Author(s):  
Amit Gupta ◽  
Xuan Wu ◽  
Ranganathan Kumar

This study discusses the merits of various physical mechanisms that are responsible for enhancing the heat transfer in nanofluids. Experimental studies have cemented the claim that ‘seeding’ liquids with nanoparticles can increase the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid by up to 40% for metallic and oxide nanoparticles dispersed in a base liquid. Experiments have also shown that the rise in conductivity of the nanofluid is highly dependent on the size and concentration of the nanoparticles. On the theoretical side, traditional models like Maxwell or Hamilton-Crosser models cannot explain this unusually high heat transfer. Several mechanisms have been postulated in the literature such as Brownian motion, thermal diffusion in nanoparticles and thermal interaction of nanoparticles with the surrounding fluid, the formation of an ordered liquid layer on the surface of the nanoparticle and microconvection. This study concentrates on 3 possible mechanisms: Brownian dynamics, microconvection and lattice vibration of nanoparticles in the fluid. By considering two nanofluids, copper particles dispersed in ethylene glycol, and silica in water, it is determined that translational Brownian motion of the nanoparticles, presence of an interparticle potential and the microconvection heat transfer are mechanisms that play only a smaller role in the enhancement of thermal conductivity. On the other hand, the lattice vibrations, determined by molecular dynamics simulations show a great deal of promise in increasing the thermal conductivity by as much as 23%. In a simplistic sense, the lattice vibration can be regarded as a means to simulate the phononic transport from solid to liquid at the interface.


Author(s):  
P. E. Phelan ◽  
J. R. Pacheco

In this paper, a numerical scheme based on the immersed boundary method is used to study the motion of nano-sized particles subjected to Brownian motion and heat transfer. Our objective is to use this numerical technique as a tool to better understand the effect that Brownian forces have on the overall heat transfer process. The conventional approach to perform Brownian dynamic simulations is based on the use of a random force in the particle motion such that the fluctuation-dissipation theorem is satisfied. Our preliminary computational results suggest an increase in the thermal conductivity of the bulk fluid. Results are presented for several particles in a two-dimensional space.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
A. Miguelis ◽  
R. Pazetto ◽  
R. M. S. Gama

This work presents the solution of the steady-state heat transfer problem in a rectangular plate with an internal heat source in a context in which the thermal conductivity depends on the local temperature. This generalization of one of the most classical heat transfer problems is carried out with the aid of the Kirchhoff transformation and employs only well known tools, as the superposition of solutions and the Fourier series. The obtained results illustrate how the usual procedures may be extended for solving more realistic physical problems (since the thermal conductivity of any material is temperature-dependent). A general formula for evaluating the Kirchhoff transformation as well as its inverse is presented too. This work has a strong didactical contribution since such analytical solutions are not found in any classical heat transfer book. In addition, the main idea can be used in a lot of similar problems.


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