Numerical modeling of nanofluids’ flow and heat transfer

The performance evaluation of the nanofluids through numerical methods is much more affordable compared to time-consuming experiments involving complex and expensive processes and materials. The accurate modeling of the nanofluid flow and hydrothermal characteristics requires a comprehensive realization of the underlying physical mechanisms determining the heat transfer attributes of the nanofluids. This chapter summarizes the potential physical mechanisms contributing to the thermal activity of the nanofluids. The thermal performance enhancement of the nanofluids is regarded as a relative change of their thermophysical properties, therefore a brief discussion of the thermophysical characteristics of the nanofluids is presented along with their property correlations. The single-phase and multiphase (Eulerian–Eulerian and Eulerian–Lagrangian models) mathematical models used for simulating nanofluids’ flow and thermal characterizes are discussed in detail. Finally, a brief overview of the macro-, micro-, and mesoscale computational fluid dynamic techniques to solve the respective governing equations is presented in this chapter.