Continued miniaturization and demand for high-end performance of electronic devices and appliances have led to dramatic increase in their heat flux generation. Consequently, conventional coolants and cooling approaches are increasingly falling short in meeting the ever-increasing cooling needs and challenges of those high heat generating electronic devices. This study provides a critical review of traditional and emerging cooling methods as well as coolants for electronics. In addition to summarizing traditional coolants, heat transfer properties and performances of potential new coolants such as nanofluids are also reviewed and analyzed. With superior thermal properties and numerous benefits nanofluids show great promises in fulfilling the cooling demands of high heat generating electronic devices. It is believed that applications of such novel coolants in emerging techniques like micro-channels and micro-heat pipes can revolutionize cooling technologies for electronics in the future.

A critical review of traditional and emerging techniques and fluids for electronics cooling

Thermal conductivity of hybrid nanofluids: A critical review

This paper summarizes the important results regarding the improvement in the thermophysical properties of nanofluids. The influence of important parameters like particle's (loading, material, size, and shape), base fluid type, temperature, additives and pH value has been considered. There are many conflicting reports on the influence of parameters on thermophysical properties and the literature in this field is widespread, so this article would be beneficial for investigators to have a precise screening of a broad range of studies in this field. Further literature review of the applications of nanofluids with a particular focus on the advantages of using nanofluids in solar collectors and as coolants in automotive heat exchangers. The authors hope that this review can help in the translation of nanofluid technology from the lab scale research to industrial applications in solar collectors and automotive sector. At last, the paper identifies the opportunities for future research.

A review on thermophysical properties of nanofluids and heat transfer applications

Review on thermal properties of nanofluids: Recent developments.

A review of recent advances in thermophysical properties at the nanoscale: From solid state to colloids

Heat transfer performance and transport properties of ZnO-ethylene glycol and ZnO-ethylene glycol-water nanofluid coolants

Microwave assisted extraction of flavonoids from Terminalia bellerica: Study of kinetics and thermodynamics

Experiments were carried out on the measurement of viscosity and thermal conductivity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)-water nanofluids prepared using gum arabic as dispersant. The influence of temperature (28–60 °C), MWCNT concentration (0.14–0.24 vol%) on viscosity and effective thermal conductivity has been investigated. Our results on the effect of MWCNT concentration on relative viscosity and thermal conductivity ratio are in qualitative agreement with those reported in literature. Thermal conductivity ratios increase strongly with temperature, especially above 45 °C. Relative viscosities too increased with temperature above 45 °C at relatively higher MWCNT concentration indicating the potential role of Brownian motion.

K.S. Rajan

Papers

Heat transfer performance and transport properties of ZnO-ethylene glycol and ZnO-ethylene glycol-water nanofluid coolants

Microwave assisted extraction of flavonoids from Terminalia bellerica: Study of kinetics and thermodynamics

Viscosity and thermal conductivity of dispersions of gum arabic capped MWCNT in water: Influence of MWCNT concentration and temperature

Computational analysis of new microchannel heat sink configurations

Viscosity and thermal conductivity of dispersions of sub-micron TiO2 particles in water prepared by stirred bead milling and ultrasonication