A plausible approach to heat transfer enhancement: non-Fourier heat transfer in fluids under oscillating conditions

摘要

Efficient and optimal energy transport is one of the present challenges in the physics of many different devices. In this context, the dynamic effective thermal diffusivity of a fluid with a non-Fourier heat conduction law is examined. Considering the simplest description for heat conduction beyond Fourier's law (the Cattaneo-Vernotte equation), an enhancement in the heat transported under oscillating conditions for both Newtonian and Maxwellian fluids may be obtained. The possible impact of such enhancement on the optimization of heat transfer processes and energy efficiency, and hence the importance of searching for fluids obeying the Cattaneo-Vernotte heat transport (specially for use in nanoscales where the effect may have an influential role) are also discussed.