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Nanofluids: physical phenomena, applications in thermal systems and the environment effects- a critical review

Nanofluids: physical phenomena, applications in thermal systems and the environment effects- a critical review
Nanofluids: physical phenomena, applications in thermal systems and the environment effects- a critical review
This paper presents a review of literature on the effects of using nanofluids (NFs) in energy systems. First, different types of NFs, including the combination of metal and non-metal particles of nanometer sizes with a base fluid, are introduced. Then, the important properties of different NFs, such as the thermal conductivity coefficient, viscosity, specific heat capacity, and electrical conductivity are discussed. Different physical phenomena associated with NF flows including wettability, aggregation, Brownian movement, migration, nanolayer at the liquid/particle interface, and diffusiophoresis are discussed. It is shown that more accurate results can be obtained by considering these phenomena in the nanofluid flow. Subsequently, hybrid NFs are introduced, and papers related to these NFs are briefly reviewed. In the main part of this review, the application of NFs in different energy systems is discussed, revealing that NFs usually feature improved heat transfer capability compared to pure fluids. Most researchers have used NFs with metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Moreover, the existing economic and performance analyses indicate that NFs exhibit acceptable performance and can be used as industrial fluids. Finally, the challenges involved in using NFs in different industries are identified. Most notably these include the high cost of producing NPs, the increase in the pumping power due to an increase in viscosity, the precipitation and agglomeration of NPs with time, the reduction in the thermal conductivity coefficient at high volume fractions, increased wear in these systems, and the effect of NPs on the environment. The use of NFs decreases energy consumption, emissions, waste production, raw material usage, and, hence, damage to the environment.
0959-6526
Pordanjani, Ahmad Hajatzadeh
d14a694c-6fb0-4a65-807e-1eaf916aab40
Aghakhani, Saeed
6fbc33ea-b06b-4f3d-8140-3a841eead4ec
Afrand, Masoud
8106522f-6ac2-4a61-bb68-b93a527b95c7
Sharifpur, Mohsen
186b936f-6322-4c9c-8a6d-56ec9e552e8e
Meyer, Josua P.
1b44668e-3507-45c8-bd74-94afd423fd04
Xu, Huijin
59c58899-129d-495c-b6ec-2eb4c5a66d9c
Ali, Hafiz Muhammad
71c1c6eb-d41a-4683-95b3-d44d310fbd14
Karimi, Nader
620646d6-27c9-4e1e-948f-f23e4a1e773a
Cheraghian, Goshtasp
a23338a5-fc6a-4658-bd26-81602d1f3e91
Pordanjani, Ahmad Hajatzadeh
d14a694c-6fb0-4a65-807e-1eaf916aab40
Aghakhani, Saeed
6fbc33ea-b06b-4f3d-8140-3a841eead4ec
Afrand, Masoud
8106522f-6ac2-4a61-bb68-b93a527b95c7
Sharifpur, Mohsen
186b936f-6322-4c9c-8a6d-56ec9e552e8e
Meyer, Josua P.
1b44668e-3507-45c8-bd74-94afd423fd04
Xu, Huijin
59c58899-129d-495c-b6ec-2eb4c5a66d9c
Ali, Hafiz Muhammad
71c1c6eb-d41a-4683-95b3-d44d310fbd14
Karimi, Nader
620646d6-27c9-4e1e-948f-f23e4a1e773a
Cheraghian, Goshtasp
a23338a5-fc6a-4658-bd26-81602d1f3e91

Pordanjani, Ahmad Hajatzadeh, Aghakhani, Saeed, Afrand, Masoud, Sharifpur, Mohsen, Meyer, Josua P., Xu, Huijin, Ali, Hafiz Muhammad, Karimi, Nader and Cheraghian, Goshtasp (2021) Nanofluids: physical phenomena, applications in thermal systems and the environment effects- a critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 320, [128573]. (doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128573).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper presents a review of literature on the effects of using nanofluids (NFs) in energy systems. First, different types of NFs, including the combination of metal and non-metal particles of nanometer sizes with a base fluid, are introduced. Then, the important properties of different NFs, such as the thermal conductivity coefficient, viscosity, specific heat capacity, and electrical conductivity are discussed. Different physical phenomena associated with NF flows including wettability, aggregation, Brownian movement, migration, nanolayer at the liquid/particle interface, and diffusiophoresis are discussed. It is shown that more accurate results can be obtained by considering these phenomena in the nanofluid flow. Subsequently, hybrid NFs are introduced, and papers related to these NFs are briefly reviewed. In the main part of this review, the application of NFs in different energy systems is discussed, revealing that NFs usually feature improved heat transfer capability compared to pure fluids. Most researchers have used NFs with metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Moreover, the existing economic and performance analyses indicate that NFs exhibit acceptable performance and can be used as industrial fluids. Finally, the challenges involved in using NFs in different industries are identified. Most notably these include the high cost of producing NPs, the increase in the pumping power due to an increase in viscosity, the precipitation and agglomeration of NPs with time, the reduction in the thermal conductivity coefficient at high volume fractions, increased wear in these systems, and the effect of NPs on the environment. The use of NFs decreases energy consumption, emissions, waste production, raw material usage, and, hence, damage to the environment.

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Published date: 20 October 2021

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 509147
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509147
ISSN: 0959-6526
PURE UUID: 71743e7e-f32c-4ed6-9823-282b256605ac
ORCID for Nader Karimi: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4559-6245

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Date deposited: 11 Feb 2026 18:05
Last modified: 14 Feb 2026 03:18

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Contributors

Author: Ahmad Hajatzadeh Pordanjani
Author: Saeed Aghakhani
Author: Masoud Afrand
Author: Mohsen Sharifpur
Author: Josua P. Meyer
Author: Huijin Xu
Author: Hafiz Muhammad Ali
Author: Nader Karimi ORCID iD
Author: Goshtasp Cheraghian

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