Review on using nanofluids for heat transfer enhancement in nuclear power plants

Abstract

AbstractCooling down fuel rods is the critical technical challenge in nuclear reactors. In the past decades conventional fluids (like water, ethylene glycol, oil) were used for this purpose. Conventional heat transfer fluids extract less heat due to their lower thermal conductivity. Currently improving the heat transfer using advanced fluids – known as nanofluids – is investigated. A fluid which contains particles with sizes in nano-meters (known as nanoparticles) is called nanofluid. Solid metals have larger thermal conductivity when it is nano in size. The nanofluids which exhibit nanoparticles are usually made of oxides, metals, carbon nanotubes or carbides. Nanofluid is the new challenge in thermal sciences which generate from the concept of suspension of nanoparticles in base fluids for improving cooling phenomenon in nuclear reactors. Nanofluids have unique features or properties which are totally different from conventional solid-liquid mixtures that make them potentially useful for heat transfer enhancement in nuclear reactors. The research work on improvement in heat transfer using nanofluids is still in its primary stage. This paper presents a current review survey in this area with emphasis on the enhancement of heat transfer studies of nanofluids.