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Thermal performance criterion for nanofluids in laminar flow regime

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Abstract

This paper theoretically presents a thermal performance criterion for nanofluids under the laminar flow condition, in which the nanofluids flow through a simple circular tube. The criterion is also defined by the fixed pumping power, temperature difference between the inlet and outlet, and surface area of the simple tube. In order to present the Figure of merit (FOM) of water-based nanofluids containing commercial Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the CNT manufacturers using the criterion, previous experimental data of effective properties such as thermal conductivity and viscosity are classified by the CNT manufacturers. Based on the results, we determine which water-based CNT nanofluids have better thermal performance to predict the feasibility of applying nanofluids in a practical system. Although this study is limited in its ability to clearly assess the thermal performance of CNT nanofluids, the present criterion suggests a minimum guideline for CNT nanofluids in laminar flow regime can be extrapolated to thermal management devices.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, 10540, Korea

    Seung-Hyun Lee & Seok Pil Jang

  2. Changwon Center, Quality Management Bureau, Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, 51474, Korea

    Hyun Jin Kim

Authors
  1. Seung-Hyun Lee
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Correspondence to Seok Pil Jang.

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Recommended by Associate Editor Youngsuk Nam

Seung-Hyun Lee received a Ph.D. from Korea Aerospace University in 2015. He is currently a Research Engineer of Koreanair. His research interests include conductive heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids and solar thermal applications of nanofluids.

Hyun Jin Kim received a Ph.D. from Korea Aerospace University in 2015. He is currently a Research Engineer of Defense Agency for Technology and Quality. His research interests include convective heat transfer phenomena of nanofluids, nanosolder for melting point depression, quality management and RAM.

Seok Pil Jang received a Ph.D. from KAIST (Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), 2003 in South Korea and worked at Energy Technology Division of Argonne National Lab (ANL) in Chicago, Illinois until he joined Korea Aerospace University in 2004. Also, he was visiting scholar at ANL from 2004 to 2006 and was Visiting Professor at UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) from 2010 to 2011. He have worked as Professor at Korea Aerospace University since 2004.

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Lee, SH., Kim, H.J. & Jang, S.P. Thermal performance criterion for nanofluids in laminar flow regime. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 975–983 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0150-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0150-0

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