Nanofluids for energetics: effect of stabilization on the critical heat flux at boiling

Investigation of aqueous nanofluids synthesized for the first time based on the natural alumosilicate attapulgite showed their high efficiency as heat-transfer agents and the ability to provide a more than twofold increase of the critical heat flux (CHF) as compared to that of the base liquid (pure water). It is shown that insignificant additives of sodium pyrophosphate, which produce disaggregation of nanoparticles and stabilization of attapulgite-containing nanofluids, significantly improve their thermal properties and heatexchange parameters. Several mechanisms are proposed for interpretation of the observed CHF growth. It is established that the use of attapulgite nanofluids not only allows higher CHF to be reached as compared to that of pure water, but also eliminates sudden onset of the boiling crisis.