Thermal conductivity and particle agglomeration in alumina nanofluids: Experiment and theory

In recent years many experimentalists have reported an anomalously enhanced thermal conductivity in liquid suspensions of nanoparticles. Despite the importance of this effect for heat transfer applications, no agreement has emerged about the mechanism of this phenomenon, or even about the experimentally observed magnitude of the enhancement. To address these issues, this paper presents a combined experimental and theoretical study of heat conduction and particle agglomeration in nanofluids. On the experimental side, nanofluids of alumina particles in water and ethylene glycol are characterized using thermal conductivity measurements, viscosity measurements, dynamic light scattering, and other techniques. The…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• OB
  Ohio Board of Regents
• LB
  Louisiana Board of Regents
• OO
  Office of Naval Research