A Review on the Mechanisms of Heat Transport in Nanofluids

Due to superior thermal properties and many potential applications, nanofluids have recently attracted the attention of the research community. Though the experiments in nanofluids have revealed the spectacular heat transfer enhancement in them, there are many inconsistencies in the reported experimental values and controversies in the mechanisms proposed for heat transport in nanofluids. This indicates that it is crucial to be aware of the different mechanisms contributing to superior thermal properties of nanofluids and discuss the existing controversies in them. Therefore, in this article, we provide an overview of the various possible mechanisms reported in the literature that contribute to enhanced thermal conductivity of nanofluids. The other factors affecting the nanofluids thermal conductivity and the mathematical models for estimating nanofluids thermal conductivity with their limitations are also discussed.