A preliminary analysis of the intensified thermal-conductivity mechanism of nano-fluids

The mechanism of an intensified thermal conductivity achieved through the use of nano-fluids is analyzed from the following two aspects, namely, a changed liquid structure due to the addition of nano-particles and the micro-motion of nano-fluids. The results of the analysis indicate that relative to the enhanced thermal conductivity effected by the addition in fluids of millimeter or micrometer-grade particles the enhanced thermal conductivity made possible by nano-fluids has come about mainly due to the micro-motion of the nano-particles. Through the measurement of the thermal conductivity of nano-fluids under various temperatures it has been verified that the micro-motion of the nano-particles represents a major factor contributing to the enhancement of thermal conductivity by the nano-fluids.