Numerical investigation of the enhanced thermal conductivity due to heat dispersion of a nanofluid

A numerical study on the enhanced thermal conductivity of a nanofluid was performed. Liquid paraffin wax with copper-oxide (CuO) particles was the nanofluid used for the study. A unit cell, which is considered a representative elementary control volume of the nanofluid, was modeled using the Finite Volume Method (FVM). The unit cell was subjected to a shear flow condition that enhanced the effective thermal conductivity due to induced heat dispersion and solid particle conductivity. The unit cell-based numerical investigations revealed the roles of the volume fraction of the conductive particles and the shear flow in the enhancement of effective thermal conductivity and flow-induced heat dispersion of the nanofluid.