Nanofluids are a very interesting field of study in the improving of efficiency in cooling and heat transfer applications, with a variety of R&D projects actually focused on them. Nanofluids are colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in a traditional thermal transfer fluid, such as water, glycol or oil, offering augmented conductivity and higher thermal transfer rate. Nanomaterials bring indeed improved and orginal mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic and optical properties.
Potential applications of nanofluids are limitless, in the HVAC sector and chillers, in heat exchangers efficiency, in fuel cells, absorption chillers and concentrated solar power collectors. Nanotech fluids can then also be employed as nanolubricants, as the addition of nanoparticles and nanotubes to a traditional mineral oil base increase heat dissipation and tribological properties of a common lubricants, with boosted wear resistance that extends the lifecycle of mechanical moving parts in motors and compressors in chillers.
