Nanofluid Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques

Nanofluids are suspensions of nanoscale particles dispersed in conventional base fluids to improve thermal transport properties. By introducing metal, metal oxide, carbon or hybrid nanoparticles into water, ethylene glycol or oils, researchers have achieved enhanced thermal conductivity, elevated convective heat transfer coefficients and modified rheological characteristics. The interplay of nanoparticle concentration, size, shape and surface coating dictates the balance between heat transfer enhancement and increased viscosity or pressure drop. Passive techniques such as Brownian motion promotion, thermophoretic migration and magnetic field alignment further augment heat transport without external power. Surface functionalisation and the use of hybrid nanomaterials seek synergistic gains, while advanced channel designs—from micro-channels to helical tubes—optimise flow and thermal boundary layers. These developments underpin applications in electronic cooling, solar thermal systems, automotive radiators and high-performance heat exchangers, offering pathways to reduced energy consumption, lower carbon emissions and improved system compactness.

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Nanofluid Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanofluid heat transfer enhancement techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanofluid: A solid–liquid suspension of nanoparticles in a base fluid to improve thermal properties.

Nusselt number (Nu): A dimensionless parameter quantifying the ratio of convective to conductive heat transfer at a boundary.

Thermal conductivity (k): A material property indicating its ability to conduct heat.

Convective heat transfer coefficient (h): A measure of heat transferred between a solid surface and moving fluid per unit area and temperature difference.

Brownian motion: Random particle movement at the nanoscale that enhances thermal energy exchange in fluids.

Thermophoresis: Particle migration driven by temperature gradients, contributing to heat transfer modulation.

Hybrid nanofluid: A nanofluid containing two or more different types of nanoparticles to achieve synergistic thermal enhancements.

References

1. Thermal Assessment of Nano-Particulate Graphene-Water/Ethylene Glycol (WEG 60:40) Nano-Suspension in a Compact Heat Exchanger. Energies (2019).
2. Heat transfer and pressure drop performance of Nanofluid: A state-of- the-art review. International Journal of Thermofluids (2021).
3. A Review of Recent Passive Heat Transfer Enhancement Methods. Energies (2022).
4. Hybrid or mono nanofluids for convective heat transfer applications. A critical review of experimental research. Applied Thermal Engineering (2022).