Lattice Boltzmann application to nanofluids dynamics-A review

Abstract The advancement of nanotechnology has contributed immensely in solving major problems in engineering and medical applications. Versatility of nanofluids made of nanoparticles is attributed mainly to the size, shape, type and ionic composition of the particles. Specifically, the use of nanofluids for heat augmentation and mass transport is of wide application and it is accruing interest from researchers. Nonetheless, experimental approach may be cumbersome and expensive. To this end, Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has shown its capability in the study of complex flow systems that have complicated geometries (e.g. porous media) with acceptable accuracy while using a simple algorithm. In this review, we present a rich summary of the latest findings on the application of Lattice Boltzmann predictive model for nanofluids related heat and mass transfer phenomena with emphasis on porous media and also highlight current challenges for future research.