Model for Nanofluids Thermal Conductivity Based on Modified Nanoconvective Mechanism

Abstract

Nuclear reactors are one of the long-term energy fulfillment solutions. Efforts to increase operating power density at various type of nuclear reactors are programs that are being developed to improve the economic properties of a reactor. The use of nanofluids allows nuclear reactors to operate more optimally through increased critical heat flux (CHF) and increased retention capability of nuclear reactors to accidents. Thermal conductivity is a nanofluids property that intensively studied because it has not been obtained an accurate model. In this paper a nanofluid thermal conductivity model was developed by involving all possible heat transfer mechanisms. But the modification only focuses on the mechanism of nanoconvection. According to this model the thermal conductivity of nanofluids depends on the volume fraction of nanoparticles, particle diameter, viscosity, density, and temperature.