Reviewed by Lexie CornerJan 7 2025
Scientists from the University of Sharjah, in a study published in Applied Thermal Engineering, highlighted the potential of nanofluids and turbulators to enhance thermal conductivity, improve heat transfer efficiency, lower energy costs, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Hybrid nanofluid turbulent transportation through a tube with an innovative twisted tape combined with helical fins heat sink. Image Credit: Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments.
While turbulators, typically made of stainless steel, consist of coiled wire or small metal baffles, nanofluids are fluids containing nanoparticles as small as a few nanometers.
Recent advancements have focused on using nanofluids and turbulators to improve cooling systems, enhance heat transfer rates, and support renewable energy applications.
The researchers' key finding demonstrates that combining nanofluids and turbulators to optimize their functions can significantly enhance energy transfer, cooling, and heating efficiency.
Heating and cooling systems account for nearly half of global energy consumption and contribute to over 40 % of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. With air conditioning demand projected to increase by 45 % by 2050, this issue is expected to worsen.
The researchers emphasized the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy: "to turn to the broader utilization of renewable energies instead of fossil fuels to effectively tackle this widely recognized challenge of transition to sustainable energy.”
Their study includes “the design of a roadmap that integrates advanced (nanofluid and turbulator-based) technologies into sustainable energy systems.” They identified “huge potential in these technologies to make considerable contributions towards the global transition towards renewable energy sources.”
The automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors are showing increasing interest in this research and related fields of study.
The study was conducted in collaboration between researchers from five universities: the University of Sharjah in the UAE, Lancaster University in the UK, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, the National Technical University of Athens in Greece, and Sunway University in Malaysia.
Dr. Zafar Said, lead author and Associate Professor at the University of Sharjah's College of Engineering, explained that the study addresses the need for sustainable energy solutions and helps pave the way for energy systems with improved performance and reduced environmental impact.
This can notably improve the efficiency of renewable energy technologies, besides contributing to a shift away from fossil fuel economies. New materials, such as phase-change materials and hybrid nanofluids, were introduced, holding much promise for more efficient energy storage and transportation.
Dr. Zafar Said, Study Lead author and Associate Professor, University of Sharjah
According to Dr. Said, whose research focuses on heat transfer, nanofluids, and sustainable energy, he and his colleagues are developing new technologies that, if implemented, would “enhance the heat transfer processes, which are crucial in energy applications, focusing on nanofluids, turbulators, and new working fluids to investigate their potential and efficiency improvement in solar collectors and heat exchangers.”
Our research emphasizes environmental sustainability, answering the modern goals for clean energy and low carbon emissions. It looks at how these advanced technologies would be incorporated into large-scale applications and points toward a roadmap for transition toward renewable energy systems.
Dr. Zafar Said, Study Lead author and Associate Professor, University of Sharjah
However, the authors acknowledge that the method they used in their study still “requires careful consideration of potential drawbacks, such as increased nanoparticle deposition, which may reduce system efficiency. This holistic approach considers economic, environmental, and social factors, ensuring compliance with global sustainability benchmarks and contributing to energy system sustainability research.”
Dr. Said remains optimistic, highlighting the enhanced thermal conductivity and efficiency of turbulators and nanofluids, along with their significant potential for application in cooling systems and renewable energy devices.
Our research highlights the transformative potential of nanofluids and turbulators in shaping the future of energy systems. Integrating these advanced materials into everyday applications can bridge the gap between energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Zafar Said, Study Lead author and Associate Professor, University of Sharjah
While the researchers show how turbulators and nanofluids can be combined to maximize cooling and heating device efficiency in terms of volume, cost, and environment, they also highlight some upcoming difficulties, especially regarding stability and scalability.
“These practical techniques thus illustrate that modern heat transfer systems can be feasible and usable in reality. Translating theory into practice becomes easier in this respect.”
Dr. Said points out that their findings “directly apply to efficient systems design in HVAC, transportation, and renewable energy industries, further showing the scalability and systems economics at larger sizes.”
HVAC, short for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, refers to a system that utilizes various technologies to control temperature, humidity, and air quality in enclosed spaces, ensuring comfort and sustainability.
The authors note, “The future energy systems are going to be designed based on the principles of efficiency and the usage of new materials. Some of the major challenges in research involve developing new materials and combinations to achieve cost reductions and enhancement of heat transfer using turbulators and special fluids.”
“This paper has highlighted the importance of efficient energy consumption by combining different new methods with renewable and alternative energy sources. It is urgent to turn to the broader utilization of renewable energies instead of fossil fuels to effectively tackle this widely recognized challenge of transition to sustainable energy.”
The researchers describe their research as “visionary,” highlighting how it identifies “key hurdles to be conquered if such technologies significantly impact future sustainable energy systems.” They provide guidelines for addressing the remaining technological challenges.
“These are inclusively outlined as novel material development, performance enhancement, long-term stability, life cycle methodology, and cost reduction in implementing innovative technologies into large-scale industrial applications,” they added.
The authors also emphasize the need for achieving industrial-scale technologies, further cost reductions, and sustainable scalability and material compatibility as key challenges for future research.
The researchers noted, “The realization of the technology, cost, scalability, and material compatibility are key factors to consider. These technologies can also be applied to many disciplines, like those concerned with automotive and aerospace engineering, where the control of heat is very much an issue.”
Despite these challenges, the authors remain optimistic about the future of “nanofluids, turbulators, and new working fluids [which] are expected to become the keys to revolutionizing heat transfer. Advancements in these fields will have an impact on automotive and aerospace engineering, which would greatly benefit from improved thermal management.”
“Moreover, applying heat transfer enhancement techniques can lead to a higher pressure drop in the flow, which increases the unit's operational cost, especially in the cases with turbulators. However, the proper design of the enhanced units can minimize the increase in the pumping work demand, and finally, the overall designs can effectively enhance the global system performance,” they added.
The researchers stress the importance of advancing cooling systems for automobiles and airplanes and bridging the gap between theory and practical applications of nanofluids, turbulators, and new working fluids.
“Nanofluids can be used to enhance the heat transfer inside car cooling systems. This will provide improved performance and better fuel economy for automobiles. Specific case studies can be done on this,” the authors highlighted in their study.
They also encourage using machine learning to optimize devices and technologies that incorporate turbulators and nanofluids. This approach “leverages AI and machine learning to tune a system to the most optimal configuration for business. It greatly reduces experimentation and accelerates the dissemination of technologies.”
Journal Reference:
Said, Z., et al. (2024) Nanofluids, turbulators, and novel working fluids for heat transfer processes and energy applications: Current status and prospective. Applied Thermal Engineering. doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.124478.