Thermal conductivity of a hybrid nanofluid

Abstract

Hybrid nanofluid can be considered as a new generation of nanofluids. Despite the success of the researchers in the field of hybrid nanofluids, no acceptable model has been proposed yet that can accurately predict the thermal conductivity of these nanofluids. The nanofluids, containing carbon nanotubes, are not excluded. This research to provide a model based on previous models to predict the thermal conductivity of hybrid nanofluids containing carbon nanotubes. For this reason, the thermal conductivity of MWCNT–MgO/water–EG nanofluids was experimentally measured. The experimental data were in seven solid volume fractions from 0.015 to 0.96%, in which the tests have been done at the temperature range 30–50 °C. A modified conventional model (as a proposed correlation in present study) can produce better results in forecasting the experimental data. The predicted data error by modified Jang–Choi model as proposed correlation was less than 3%. In addition, the price–performance analysis of the thermal conductivity data shows that hybrid nanofluids are better than single particle nanofluids.