Thermal and rheological behavior of solar salt containing highly thermally conductive particles

Nanofluids have arisen an interest in the last years given its high specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity. However, the lack of understanding of the underlying mechanism related to their behavior is still to be understood. In the present work, Solar Salt-based fluids were prepared by adding graphite particles with different geometries and particle size. The thermal conductivity and the viscosity were studied when adding 0.5%wt., 1%wt. and 1.5%wt. of nano-sized, micro-sized and flakes graphite. The main outcomes of the experimental work undertaken are that thermal conductivity and viscosity increment depends on morphology and particle size. However, they are not proportional and not concentration dependent. The results here obtained proved the need of identify the underlying mechanisms for properties performance among the fluids such as how particle size, morphology and content affects fluid properties.