Nanoparticles in nanofluids are in the form of nanoparticle clusters caused by aggregation. In order to calculate the thermal and electric conductivities of the nanofluids, the growth process and three-dimensional space structure of the nanoparticle cluster in the host fluid was simulated, and then the thermal and electric conductivities of the cluster were calculated with the resistance network method. The thermal and electric conductivities of the nanofluid were calculated based on the simulated thermal and electric conductivities of nanoparticle clusters, the volume fraction of nanoparticle clusters to the nanofluid as well as the liquid molecule adsorption layer of the nanoparticle. The simulation method was validated by experimental data.

Volume Subject Area:
Energy and Micro and Nano Scale Heat Transfer
Keywords:
nanofluids, thermal conductivity, electric conductivity, particles aggregation
Topics:
Agglomeration (Materials), Electrical conductivity, Nanofluids, Thermal conductivity
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Copyright © 2007
 by ASME
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