Heat transfer enhancement in nano-fluids suspensions : thermal wave effects and hyperbolic heat conduction.

Abstract

The spectacular heat transfer enhancement revealed experimentally in nanofluids suspensions is being investigated theoretically at the macro-scale level aiming at explaining the possible mechanisms that lead to such impressive experimental results. In particular, the possibility that thermal wave effects via hyperbolic heat conduction could have been the source of the excessively improved effective thermal conductivity of the suspension is shown to provide a viable explanation although the investigation of alternative possibilities is needed prior to reaching an ultimate conclusion.