Effect of Nanofluid and Electrostatic Disjoining Pressure on Heat Transfer from an Evaporating Meniscus

Abstract

This work provides essential insight on the evaporation process of the thin film in an extended evaporating meniscus through a comprehensive theoretical model that incorporates the effect of nanofluid and the electrostatic interactions arising due to the nanoparticles (Al₂O₃) with polar liquid (water). A lubrication theory-based model comprised of the Young-Laplace equation and kinetic-theory-based mass transport equations have been employed to reveal the different facets and the characteristics of the evaporating thin film meniscus. Results obtained show the comparison of the base liquid and the nanofluid first with the dispersion interactions alone and then with electrostatic interactions. It is revealed that the introduction of the nanoparticles in the thin film evaporation can increase the heat transfer; however, for polar liquids, the electrostatic interactions can increase the total disjoining pressure and reduce the capillary pressure for a given pressure difference. Also, neglecting the electrostatic interactions with enhanced thermophysical properties and dispersion interactions alone can exaggerate the thickness increment and understate the heat transfer from the evaporating nanofluid meniscus. Moreover, incorporating the electrostatic interactions cannot be overlooked while unveiling the underlying physics of the evaporating nanofluid meniscus for polar liquid.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the ICFAMMT 2022 committee. The authors also acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology (SERB), India (Grant No. CRG/2021/004953), under the core research grant scheme to support the present work.

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest has been reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ritesh Dwivedi

Ritesh Dwivedi is a Research Scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad. He has obtained his postgraduate in Thermal Engineering from NIT Silchar. His research interest includes heat transfer in microchannels, and Nanofluids.

Saumya Singh

Saumya Singh is a Research Scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad. Her research interest includes heat transfer, heat pipe, energy management and nanofluids.

Pawan Kumar Singh

Pawan Kumar Singh is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad. He carried out his masters and PhD from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He has published several research papers in field of nanofluid and heat transfer. His research interest includes microfluidics, nanofluids, thermal management, and heat pipe.