Characterization and modeling of thermal diffusion and aggregation in nanofluids

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
Fluids with higher thermal conductivities are sought for fluidic cooling systems in applications including microprocessors and high-power lasers. By adding high thermal conductivity nanoscale metal and metal oxide particles to a fluid the thermal conductivity of the fluid is enhanced. While particle aggregates play a central role in recent models for the thermal conductivity of nanofluids, the effect of particle diffusion in a temperature field on the aggregation and transport has yet to be studied in depth. The present work separates the effects of particle aggregation and diffusion using parallel plate experiments, infrared microscopy, light scattering, Monte Carlo simulations, and rate equations for particle and heat transport in a well dispersed nanofluid. Experimental data show non-uniform temporal increases in thermal conductivity above effective medium theory and can be well described through simulation of the combination of particle aggregation and diffusion. The simulation shows large concentration distributions due to thermal diffusion causing variations in aggregation, thermal conductivity and viscosity. Static light scattering shows aggregates form more quickly at higher concentrations and temperatures. An optimum nanoparticle diameter for these particular fluid properties is calculated to be 130 nm to optimize the fluid stability by reducing settling, thermal diffusion and aggregation.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic; electronic resource; remote
Extent 1 online resource.
Publication date 2010
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Associated with Gharagozloo, Patricia Elaine
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Primary advisor Goodson, Kenneth E, 1967-
Thesis advisor Goodson, Kenneth E, 1967-
Thesis advisor Eaton, John K
Thesis advisor Santiago, Juan G
Advisor Eaton, John K
Advisor Santiago, Juan G

Subjects

Genre Theses

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Patricia Elaine Gharagozloo.
Note Submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Thesis Thesis (Ph. D.)--Stanford University, 2010.
Location electronic resource

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2010 by Patricia Elaine Gharagozloo
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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