A review of heat transfer application of carbon-based nanofluid in heat exchangers

Abstract

Heat exchangers are very important equipment for cooling and heating processes in different industrial fields and applications. Nanofluids were employed to replace conventional working fluids of the same kind as water, ethyl-glycol and oil, with the aim to improve the heat transfer performance of heat exchange device. Nanofluids of different nanomaterials such as metal oxides, ceramic oxides and carbon nanomaterials have been widely used to enhance heat transfer. However, none improves the thermophysical properties as much as that of carbon nanomaterials such as Graphene and Carbon nanotubes. This study reviews and summarizes investigations on the application of carbon-based nanofluid in heat exchangers. It was observed that the thermal characteristics of the nanofluid depend on the type of base fluid, nanomaterial concentrations, temperature and surfactants used. The heat transfer characteristics and flow properties of the heat exchanger utilizing carbon-based nanofluids were also affected by nanomaterial concentration, Reynolds number, flow rates and inlet fluid temperature. It concluded by presenting challenges and scope for future studies.