Enhanced Heat Transfer Using Oil-Based Nanofluid Flow through Conduits: A Review

Abstract

The application of nanofluids for enhancing the heat transfer rate is widely used in various heat exchanger applications. The selection of oil as the base to prepare nanofluids significantly enhances the thermal performance, due to its high heat carrying capacity as compared to conventional base fluid. A review is performed of various heat exchanger conduits having base fluid as nanoparticles with oil. It is reported that the heat transfer rate of a heat exchanger is significantly increased with the use of oil-based nanofluids. The rate of heat transfer depends on the type of nanoparticle, its concentration and diameter, the base fluid, as well as factors like the mixture of more than two nanoparticles (hybrid nanofluids) and stability. A review is also performed of the thermal performance of the different nanofluids analyzed by various investigators. The heat transfer system reviewed in this work includes triangular, square, and circular conduits, as well as rib surface conduits. The review of various applications viz. solar thermal systems, heat exchangers, refrigerators, and engines, is carried out where the inclusion of the oil base is used. It is reported that the amalgamation of the nanomaterial with the oil as base fluid is a prolific technique to enhance thermal performance. The performance of the reviewed research work is comparatively analyzed for different aspects viz. thermal oil, mineral oil, hybrid, and conventional nanoparticles, concentration of nanoparticles, etc. The novelty of the present work is the determination of the effective performing oil-based nanofluid in various applications, to figure out the selection of specific mineral oil, thermal oil, nanoparticle concentration, and hybrid nanofluids.