Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Local and directional characteristics of nanofluids: a non-equilibrium molecular dynamics study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Heat transfer enhancement by suspending nano-sized particles in a liquid, called nanofluid, has attracted considerable attention over the past few decades. The underlying mechanisms are an area of active research. The present study focused on the inhomogeneous and non-isotropic aspects of the thermophysical properties of nanofluids. A non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation was conducted, such that the temperature gradient was applied directly to the simulation domain where various particles were located, and local and directional characteristics of the heat transfer were investigated. The ordered structure in the liquid region next to the liquid-solid atomic interface played a critical negative role in altering the thermal properties that could not be predicted through the simple composite model of Maxwell. The formed liquid structure was sensitive to the surroundings, and the size, shape, and multi-particle arrangement affected the performance accordingly. Two nano-particles oscillating in the temperature-gradient direction were significantly effective in enhancing heat transfer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. Gupta, V. Singh, R. Kumar and Z. Said, A review on thermophysical properties of nanofluids and heat transfer applications, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 74 (2017) 638–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Raja, R. Vijayan, P. Dineshkumar and M. Venkatesan, Review on nanofluids characterization, heat transfer characteristics and applications, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 64 (2016) 163–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. W. Yu, D. M. France, J. L. Routbort and S. U. Choi, Review and comparison of nanofluid thermal conductivity and heat transfer enhancements, Heat Transfer Engineering, 29 (2008) 432–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. W. Yu and H. Xie, A review on nanofluids: preparation, stability mechanisms, and applications, Journal of Nanomaterials, 2012 (2012).

  5. J. C. Maxwell, Electricity and Magnetism, Dover New York (1954).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. R. L. Hamilton and O. Crosser, Thermal conductivity of heterogeneous two-component systems, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Fundamentals, 1 (1962) 187–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. S. U. Choi and J. A. Eastman, Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Fluids with Nanoparticles, Argonne National Lab., IL (United States) (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  8. A. Kasaeian, A. T. Eshghi and M. Sameti, A review on the applications of nanofluids in solar energy systems, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 43 (2015) 584–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. V. Kumar, A. K. Tiwari and S. K. Ghosh, Application of nanofluids in plate heat exchanger: a review, Energy Conversion and Management, 105 (2015) 1017–1036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. R. Saidur, S. Kazi, M. Hossain, M. Rahman and H. Mohammed, A review on the performance of nanoparticles suspended with refrigerants and lubricating oils in refrigeration systems, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15 (2011) 310–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R. Saidur, K. Leong and H. A. Mohammed, A review on applications and challenges of nanofluids, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15 (2011) 1646–1668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M. Fakour, A. Rahbari, E. Khodabandeh and D. Ganji, Nanofluid thin film flow and heat transfer over an unsteady stretching elastic sheet by LSM, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 32 (2018).

  13. S. Harikrishnan, S. I. Hussain, A. Devaraju, P. Sivasamy and S. Kalaiselvam, Improved performance of a newly prepared nano-enhanced phase change material for solar energy storage, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 31 (2017) 4903–4910.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. D. Y. Kim, J. B. Lee, S. H. Lee and J.-Y. Jung, Evaporative characteristics of Al2O3 nanofluid droplet on heated surface, Journal of Heat Transfer, 138 (2016).

  15. D.-W. Oh, A. Jain, J. K. Eaton, K. E. Goodson and J. S. Lee, Thermal conductivity measurement and sedimentation detection of aluminum oxide nanofluids by using the 3ω method, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 29 (2008) 1456–1461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. A. Kuchibhotla and D. Banerjee, Forced convection heat transfer of nanofluids: a review, Proceedings of the ASME 2017 Heat Transfer Summer Conference. Volume 2: Heat Transfer Equipment; Heat Transfer in Multiphase Systems; Heat Transfer Under Extreme Conditions; Nanoscale Transport Phenomena; Theory and Fundamental Research in Heat Transfer; Thermophysical Properties; Transport Phenomena in Materials Processing and Manufacturing, Bellevue, Washington, USA, July 9–12 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  17. P. Keblinski, S. Phillpot, S. Choi and J. Eastman, Mechanisms of heat flow in suspensions of nano-sized particles (nanofluids), International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 45 (2002) 855–863.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. C. H. Chon, K. D. Kihm, S. P. Lee and S. U. Choi, Empirical correlation finding the role of temperature and particle size for nanofluid (Al2O3) thermal conductivity enhancement, Applied Physics Letters, 87 (2005) 153107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J. Eapen, J. Li and S. Yip, Beyond the Maxwell limit: thermal conduction in nanofluids with percolating fluid structures, Physical Review E, 76 (2007) 062501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. S. P. Jang and S. U. Choi, Role of brownian motion in the enhanced thermal conductivity of nanofluids, Applied Physics Letters, 84 (2004) 4316–4318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. S. Sarkar and R. P. Selvam, Molecular dynamics simulation of effective thermal conductivity and study of enhanced thermal transport mechanism in nanofluids, Journal of Applied Physics, 102 (2007) 074302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. H. Babaei, P. Keblinski and J. Khodadadi, A proof for insignificant effect of Brownian motion-induced micro-convection on thermal conductivity of nanofluids by utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, Journal of Applied Physics, 113 (2013) 084302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. W. Evans, J. Fish and P. Keblinski, Role of brownian motion hydrodynamics on nanofluid thermal conductivity, Applied Physics Letters, 88 (2006) 093116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. M. Han, Size effect on heat transfer in nanoscale liquid bridge, Nanoscale and Microscale Thermophysical Engineering, 20 (2016) 158–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Z. Liang and H.-L. Tsai, Thermal conductivity of interfacial layers in nanofluids, Physical Review E, 83 (2011) 041602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. I. Mitiche, O. Lamrous, S. Makhlouf, F. Marchetti and N. Laidani, Effect of the interface layer vibration modes in enhancing thermal conductivity of nanofluids, Physical Review E, 100 (2019) 042120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Xie, M. Fujii and X. Zhang, Effect of interfacial nanolayer on the effective thermal conductivity of nanoparticle-fluid mixture, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 48 (2005) 2926–2932.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. W. Yu and S. Choi, The role of interfacial layers in the enhanced thermal conductivity of nanofluids: a renovated Maxwell model, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 5 (2003) 167–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. J. Gao, R. Zheng, H. Ohtani, D. Zhu and G. Chen, Experimental investigation of heat conduction mechanisms in nanofluids, Clue on clustering, Nano Letters, 9 (2009) 4128–4132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. P. E. Gharagozloo, J. K. Eaton and K. E. Goodson, Diffusion, aggregation, and the thermal conductivity of nanofluids, Applied Physics Letters, 93 (2008) 103110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. R. Prasher, W. Evans, P. Meakin, J. Fish, P. Phelan and P. Keblinski, Effect of aggregation on thermal conduction in colloidal nanofluids, Applied Physics Letters, 89 (2006) 143119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. H. A. Mintsa, G. Roy, C. T. Nguyen and D. Doucet, New temperature dependent thermal conductivity data for water-based nanofluids, International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 48 (2009) 363–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. H. E. Patel, T. Sundararajan and S. K. Das, An experimental investigation into the thermal conductivity enhancement in oxide and metallic nanofluids, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 12 (2010) 1015–1031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. D. A. McQuarrie, Statistical Thermodynamics, HarperCollins Publishers (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  35. P. M. Agrawal, B. M. Rice and D. L. Thompson, Predicting trends in rate parameters for self-diffusion on FCC metal surfaces, Surface Science, 515 (2002) 21–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. F. Cleri and V. Rosato, Tight-binding potentials for transition metals and alloys, Physical Review B, 48 (1993) 22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. E. W. Lemmon and R. T. Jacobsen, Viscosity and thermal conductivity equations for nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and air, International Journal of Thermophysics, 25 (2004) 21–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. S. Stephan, M. Thol, J. Vrabec and H. Hasse, Thermophysical properties of the Lennard-Jones fluid: database and data assessment, Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 59 (2019) 4248–4265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. W. D. Kaplan and Y. Kauffmann, Structural order in liquids induced by interfaces with crystals, Annu. Rev. Mater. Res., 36 (2006) 1–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Incheon National University Grant 2017.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 22012, Korea

    Minsub Han

Authors
  1. Minsub Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Minsub Han.

Additional information

Minsub Han received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, majoring in microscale fluid dynamics. His current interests are on the particle simulations applied to the small-scale fluid and soft matter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Han, M. Local and directional characteristics of nanofluids: a non-equilibrium molecular dynamics study. J Mech Sci Technol 36, 2481–2487 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-0430-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-0430-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation