Here we show through an order-of-magnitude analysis that the enhancement in the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids is due mainly to the localized convection caused by the Brownian movement of the nanoparticles. We also introduce a convective-conductive model which accurately captures the effects of particle size, choice of base liquid, thermal interfacial resistance between the particles and liquid, temperature, etc. This model is a combination of the Maxwell-Garnett (MG) conduction model and the convection caused by the Brownian movement of the nanoparticles, and reduces to the MG model for large particle sizes. The model is in good agreement with data on water, ethylene glycol, and oil-based nanofluids, and shows that the lighter the nanoparticles, the greater the convection effect in the liquid, regardless of the thermal conductivity of the nanoparticles.
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Brownian-Motion-Based Convective-Conductive Model for the Effective Thermal Conductivity of Nanofluids
Ravi Prasher,
e-mail: ravi.s.prasher@intel.com
Ravi Prasher
Intel Corporation
, CH5-157, 5000 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85226-3699
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Prajesh Bhattacharya,
Prajesh Bhattacharya
Arizona State University
, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85287-6106
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Patrick E. Phelan
Patrick E. Phelan
Arizona State University
, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85287-6106
Search for other works by this author on:
Ravi Prasher
Intel Corporation
, CH5-157, 5000 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85226-3699e-mail: ravi.s.prasher@intel.com
Prajesh Bhattacharya
Arizona State University
, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85287-6106
Patrick E. Phelan
Arizona State University
, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Tempe, AZ 85287-6106J. Heat Transfer. Jun 2006, 128(6): 588-595 (8 pages)
Published Online: November 7, 2005
Article history
Received:
August 10, 2005
Revised:
November 7, 2005
Citation
Prasher, R., Bhattacharya, P., and Phelan, P. E. (November 7, 2005). "Brownian-Motion-Based Convective-Conductive Model for the Effective Thermal Conductivity of Nanofluids." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. June 2006; 128(6): 588–595. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2188509
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