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Abstract: A mathematical model for the calculation of thermal conductivity of nanofluids containing nanoparticles and nanotubes on the basis of statistical mechanics is presented. This appears to be the first such attempt published in the scientific literature. We focus on the influence of the liquid layer structure around nanoparticles as the reason for enhancement of the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Analytical results of both the current analysis and statistical mechanics are compared with experimental data reported in the scientific literature, which show good agreement.
Keywords: statistical thermodynamics, mathematical models, thermal conductivity, nanofluids, transport properties, statistical nano-mechanics
Published: 31.05.2012; Views: 1280; Downloads: 73
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Abstract: The paper features the mathematical model of calculation of thermophysical properties for nanofluids on the basis of statistical nanomechanics. Calculation of properties for nanofluids for real substances is possible by the classical and statistical mechanics. Classical mechanics has no insight into the microstructure of the substance. Statistical mechanics, on the other hand, calculates the properties of state on the basis of molecular motions in a space, and on the basis of the intermolecular interactions. The equations obtained by means of classical thermomechanics are empirical and apply only in the region under observation. The main drawback of classical thermomechanicsis that it lacks the insight into the substance of microstructure. Contrary to classical mechanics, statistical mechanics calculates the thermomechanic properties of state on the basis of intermolecular and intramolecular interactions between particles in the same system of molecules. It deals with the systems composed of a very large number of particles. The results of the analysis are compared with experimental data and show a relatively good agreement. The analytical results obtained by statistical mechanics are compared with the experimental data and show relatively good agreement.
Keywords: statistical thermodynamics, thermophysical properties, viscosity, thermal conductivity, thermodynamic properties, mathematical model, nanofluids, statistical nanomechanics
Published: 31.05.2012; Views: 1446; Downloads: 105
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