Hybrid nanofluids preparation, thermal properties, heat transfer and friction factor – A review

In the past decade, research on nanofluids has been increased rapidly and reports reveal that nanofluids are beneficial heat transfer fluids for engineering applications. The heat transfer enhancement of nanofluids is primarily dependent on thermal conductivity of nanoparticles, particle volume concentrations and mass flow rates. Under constant particle volume concentrations and flow rates, the heat transfer enhancement only depends on the thermal conductivity of the nanoparticles. The thermal conductivity of nanoparticles may be altered or changed by preparing hybrid (composite) nanoparticles. Hybrid nanoparticles are defined as nanoparticles composed by two or more different materials of nanometer size. The fluids prepared with hybrid nanoparticles are known as hybrid nanofluids. The motivation for the preparation of hybrid nanofluids is to obtain further heat transfer enhancement with augmented thermal conductivity of these nanofluids. This review covers the synthesis of hybrid nanoparticles, preparation of hybrid nanofluids, thermal properties, heat transfer, friction factor and the available Nusselt number and friction factor correlations. The review also demonstrates that hybrid nanofluids are more effective heat transfer fluids than single nanoparticles based nanofluids or conventional fluids. Notwithstanding, full understanding of the mechanisms associated with heat transfer enhancement of hybrid nanofluids is still lacking and, consequently it is required a considerable research effort in this area.