Analysis of convective instability and heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids

Jake Kim, Yong Tae Kang, Chang Kyun Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

259 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The convective instability driven by buoyancy and heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids are investigated analytically. This paper proposes a factor which describes the effect of nanoparticle addition on the convective instability and heat transfer characteristics of a base fluid. The Bruggeman model based on the mean field approach for expressing the thermal conductivity enhancement is chosen as a lower bound of the thermal conductivity relationship. The results show that as the density and heat capacity of nanoparticles increase and the thermal conductivity and the shape factor of nanoparticles decrease, the convective motion in a nanofluid sets in easily. The heat transfer coefficient of a nanofluid is enhanced by all parameters with respect to the volume fraction of nanoparticles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2395-2401
Number of pages7
JournalPhysics of Fluids
Volume16
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004 Jul
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computational Mechanics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

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