Enhancing heat and fluid transport using nanofluids

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Nanofluids are suspensions of nano-sized particles, which can change the chemical, physical, and thermalproperties of base fluids significantly. With small concentrations of nanoparticles, nanofluids can have severaluseful applications for drilling fluids and lubricant technologies. The supporting company designs andmanufactures cost-effective and multi-functional nanoparticles, which currently are used for oil and gas drillingfluids to reduce both drilling mud losses and fluid friction. Recent studies have shown that heat transferperformance of processes involving heating/cooling fluids can be enhanced by using nanofluids instead. Toincrease the functionality of the nanofluids produced, this program addresses the heat transfer problems andapplications of nanofluids. Several parameters such as volume fraction, shape, dimensions, and fluid propertiescan affect heat transport enhancement. We will thus experimentally measure wetting, rheological, and thermalproperties of the nanofluids to understand the interplay of these parameters. The expected results will lead tooptimal designs of nanofluids with enhanced heat transport properties, which can be beneficial forhigh-performance and cost-effective heat exchangers and heating fluids.