Empirical and theoretical correlations on viscosity of nanofluids: A review

In the past decade nanotechnology has developed in many directions. Nanofluid is a mixture of nanosized particles dispersed in fluids. Nanofluids are new generation heat transfer fluids used in heat exchangers for energy conservation. Viscosity is an important property particularly concerning fluids flowing in a tube in heat exchangers. In this regard, an attempt has been made to review the available empirical and theoretical correlations for the estimation of viscosity of nanofluids. The review also extended to preparation of nanofluids, nanoparticle volume concentration, nanofluid temperature, particle size and type of base fluid on viscosity of nanofluids. The available experimental results clearly indicate that with the dispersion of nanoparticles in the base fluid viscosity increases and it further increases with the increase in particle volume concentration. Viscosity of nanofluid decreases with increase of temperature. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.