Heat Transfer Due to Laminar Natural Convection of Nanofluids

This book presents a theoretical study of heat transfer due to laminar natural convection of nanofluids, using Al2O3-water nanofluid as an example. An innovative method of similarity transformation of velocity fields on laminar boundary layers is applied for the development of a mathematical governing model of natural convection with actual nanofluids, and a novel model of the nanofluid's variable thermophysical properties is derived by a mathematical analysis based on the developed model of variable physical properties of fluids combined with the model of the nanofluid's thermal conductivity and viscosity. Based on these, the physical property factors of nanofluids are produced, which leads to a simultaneous solution for deep investigations of hydrodynamics and heat transfer of nanofluid's natural convection.

The book also proposes novel predictive formulae for the evaluation of heat transfer of Al2O3-water nanofluid’s natural convection. The formulae have reliable theoretical and practical value because they are developed by rigorous theoretical analysis of heat transfer combined with full consideration of the effects of the temperature-dependent physical properties of nanofluids and the nanoparticle shape factor and concentration, as well as variations of fluid boundary temperatures. The conversion factors proposed help to turn the heat transfer coefficient and rate of fluid natural convection into those of nanofluid natural convection. Furthermore, several calculation examples are provided to demonstrate the heat transfer application of the proposed predictive formulae.

Introduction.- Conservation Equations of Fluid Flow.- Partial Differential Equations of Boundary Layer of Nanofluid’s Natural Convection.- Ordinary Differential Equations of Boundary Layer of Nanofluid’s  Natural Convection.- Mathematical Model of Variable Physical Properties of Nanofluids.- Numerical Solutions of Velocity and Temperature Fields.- Skin-Friction Coefficient.- Predictive Formula of Wall Temperature Gradient.- Predictive Formulae on  Heat Transfer of Al₂O₃-Water Nanofluid's Natural Convection.- Calculation Examples by Using the Predictive Formulae on Heat Transfer.- Conversion Factors on Heat Transfer of Nanofluid's Natural Convection.- Numerical Simulation of Conversion Factors on Heat Transfer.- Conversion Formulae on of Heat Transfer of Al₂O₃-Water Nanofluid's Natural Convection.- Calculation Examples on Heat Transfer by Using Conversion Formulae.-  Postscript.