Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7565-4(0123456789().,-volV)(0123456789().,-volV)

Applications of nanofluids in porous medium

A critical review

Khalil Khanafer1,2 • Kambiz Vafai3

Received: 8 June 2018 / Accepted: 15 July 2018

Ó Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2018

Abstract
This investigation provides a review on the applications of nanofluids in porous media. The transport phenomena in porous
media have been of continuing interest for the past decades. This is due to its wide applications in solar receiver devices,
building thermal insulation, heat exchangers, energy storage units, ceramic processing, and catalytic reactors to name a
few. Furthermore, nanofluids have been also used in porous media due to their superior thermal characteristics. This review
is structured into two parts: The first part focuses on presenting the latest results for the thermal conductivity, viscosity,
specific heat, and the thermal expansion coefficient of nanofluids reported in the literature. The second part of this review is
allocated to the applications of nanofluids in thermal systems filled with porous medium and of different geometries, flow
regimes, boundary conditions, and different types of nanofluids and thermophysical properties. Finally, future studies on
the applications of nanofluids in porous media are recommended in this review.

Keywords Laminar  Nanofluid  Porous medium  Natural and mixed convection  MHD

Introduction Several pertinent physical phenomena were investigated

Transport phenomena in porous media have received
considerable attention in the last few decades due to its
importance in many engineering and industrial applica-
tions. Such applications include thermal insulation, packed
bed heat exchangers, drying technology, catalytic reactors,
petroleum industries, geothermal systems, and electronic
cooling [1–6]. Moreover, substantial progresses were also
made in using porous medium in biomedical applications
such as tissue replacement production, drug delivery,
advanced medical imaging, porous scaffolds for tissue
engineering, and transport in biological tissues [7–12].
& Kambiz Vafai
vafai@engr.ucr.edu
1
Mechanical Engineering Department, Australian College of
Kuwait, 13060 Safat, Kuwait
2
Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML), School of
Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
3
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of
California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
in the literature when modeling flow, heat, and mass
transfer in porous media. For example, the effects of non-
Darcy on transport phenomena in porous media were
analyzed for various geometrical configurations and
boundary conditions. Other parameters included porosity
variation, thermal dispersion, the effects of local thermal
equilibrium between the fluid phase and the solid phase,
and an anisotropic porous media.
Many of the research studies in porous media for the
past few decades utilized the generalized model. Vafai and
Tien [1, 2] presented a comprehensive study of the gen-
eralized transport model known as the Brinkman–Forch-
heimer-extended Darcy model. The effects of presence of
the solid walls and inertial forces on the temporal variation
of the mass transfer in porous media were also studied in
detail by Vafai and Tien [2]. Some important issues of
transport phenomena in porous media were also discussed
in book chapters by Nield and Bejan [13], Vafai [4, 5],
Hadim and Vafai [6], and Vafai and Hadim [7]. Models for
multiphase transport in porous media were analyzed and
presented thoroughly by Vafai and Sozen [14, 15] and
Sozen and Vafai [16, 17]. In these investigations, a detailed

123

analysis of different multiphase models including the phase
change process was presented and discussed.
A comprehensive analysis of variations within transport
models for flow and heat transfer in porous media was
presented by Alazmi and Vafai [18]. Four major classifi-
cations in modeling the transport phenomena through
porous media were discussed. These categories were con-
stant porosity, variable porosity, thermal dispersion, and
local thermal non-equilibrium. Further, the same authors
[19] analyzed various types of interfacial conditions
between a porous medium and a fluid layer. The effects of
the pertinent parameters such as Darcy number, Reynolds
number, porosity, inertia parameter, and slip coefficients on
the fluid flow and heat transfer in the neighborhood of the
interface region were analyzed by Alazmi and Vafai [19].
Determination of the correct thermal boundary conditions
for the solid and fluid phases within a porous medium was
also an important topic [20]. Different turbulent models for
transport phenomena through porous media were also
analyzed thoroughly in the literature by Vafai et al. [21].
Porous media theory was also used substantially in
modeling biomedical applications. For example, Khanafer
and Vafai [22] conducted a review study summarizing
various studies associated with the applications of porous
media in drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging. In
another study, Khaled and Vafai [23] analyzed different
biomedical areas that utilized porous media theory in the
diffusion process in brain tissues, blood flow in tumors, and
bioheat transfer in tissues. A numerical investigation based
on fluid–structure interaction analysis was investigated by
Al-Amiri [24] to determine the effect of pulsatile turbulent
flow and heating protocol on temperature and heat flux
variations in blood vessel and tumor tissues under hyper-
thermia treatment. The arterial wall was modeled in their
study using the volume-averaged porous media equations.
Nanofluids applications in porous media
Nanofluids, developed by adding nanoparticles (10–50 nm)
to traditional fluids [25], were used extensively recently in
energy and biomedical applications. Nanofluids showed the
potential to substantially increase heat transfer properties in
a variety of areas such as industrial cooling applications,
nuclear reactors, transportation industry, micro-electrome-
chanical systems (MEMS), electronics and instrumenta-
tion, and biomedical applications (nano-drug delivery,
cancer therapeutics, cryopreservation) [26, 27]. Potential
enhancement in thermal conductivity of the fluid can lead
into higher energy efficiency and lower operating costs.
A large number of studies published in the literature and
related to heat transfer enhancement using nanofluids were
investigated by the authors both experimentally and
123
K. Khanafer, K. Vafai
theoretically [28–39]. Although different investigations
reported that nanofluids exhibited larger heat transfer
enhancement compared with conventional heat transfer
fluids, contradictory results on the thermal properties of
nanofluids were cited by Khanafer and Vafai [28]. Kha-
nafer and Vafai [28] provided a comprehensive review on
the variations within the thermophysical properties of
nanofluids. They showed in their investigation that the
experimental results for the effective viscosity and thermal
conductivity of nanofluids reported by many researchers in
the literature were in disagreement. Table 1 illustrates a
comparison of the experimental thermal conductivity
augmentations of nanofluids reported in the literature.
Moreover, new correlations for the viscosity and thermal
conductivity of nanofluids were developed using the pub-
lished experimental results as given in Table 2.
Therefore, the objective of this review is to summarize
the latest development of the applications of nanofluids in
porous media. In particular, it will cover applications of
nanofluids in natural, mixed convection heat transfer, and
MHD effect in porous medium.
Natural convection in porous medium
Natural convection heat transfer is considered critical in
many engineering and industrial applications such as geo-
physics, solar energy, thermal insulation in buildings,
electronic cooling, and nuclear energy. Khanafer et al. [26]
were the first who studied numerically the buoyancy-driven
heat transfer enhancement of nanofluids in a square cavity.
They showed that the addition of nanoparticles signifi-
cantly increased the heat transfer activities inside the cavity
for various values of Grashof number. In addition, they
showed that the heat transfer rate increased with an
increase in the nanoparticles volume fraction. Although
many numerical and experimental studies of natural con-
vection flow and heat transfer of nanofluids in enclosures
were conducted in the literature, only few studies consid-
ered porous medium filled with a nanofluid.
Bourantas et al. [50] studied numerically natural con-
vection of a nanofluid in a square cavity filled with a
porous medium as shown in Fig. 1a. The Darcy–Brinkman
and the energy transport equations were solved for various
volume fractions and different types of nanoparticles.
Numerical results of streamlines, temperature profile, and
Nusselt number were obtained in that study for a wide
range of dimensionless parameters (Rayleigh number
between 105 and 107 and Darcy number between 10-5 and
10-3). The average Nusselt number was found unaffected
by the presence or the absence of a porous medium at low
Rayleigh number (Ra = 103). However, the average Nus-
selt number was found to increase with an increase in the
volume fraction of nanoparticles for various Rayleigh
Applications of nanofluids in porous medium

Table 1 Comparison of the

Reference Base fluid Particle dp/nm /p/% Thermal conductivity enhancement
experimental thermal
conductivity of nanofluids [39] Water Al2O3 38.4 4 9% (21 °C), 16% (36 °C), 24% (51 °C)
enhancements of metallic and
non-metallic nanofluids [39] Water CuO 28.6 4 14% (21 °C), 26% (36 °C), 36% (51 °C)
reported in the literature [40] Water Al2O3 131 4 24% (51 °C)
(Khanafer and Vafai [28]) [41] Water Al2O3 13 4.3 32.4% (31.8 °C)
[41] Water Al2O3 13 4.3 29.6% (46.8 °C)
[41] Water Al2O3 13 4.3 26.2% (66.8 °C)
[41] Water SiO2 12 2.3 1.1% (31.8 °C)
[41] Water SiO2 12 2.3 1% (46.8 °C)
[42] Water CuO 23.6 3.4 12%
[42] EG CuO 23.6 4 23%
[42] Water Al2O3 38.4 4.3 11%
[42] EG Al2O3 38.4 5 19%
[43] Water CuO 23 9.7 34%
[43] EG CuO 23 14.8 54%
[43] Water Al2O3 28 5.5 16%
[43] EG Al2O3 28 5 24.5%
[44] Water Al2O3 11 1 14.8% (70 °C)
[44] Water Al2O3 47 1 10.2% (70 °C)
[44] Water Al2O3 150 1 4.8% (60 °C)
[44] Water Al2O3 47 4 28.8% (70 °C)
[44] Water Al2O3 47 1 3% (21 °C)
[45] Water CuO 29 6 36% (28.9 °C)
[45] Water CuO 29 6 50% (31.3 °C)
[45] Water Al2O3 36 6 28.2%
[45] Water Al2O3 47 6 26.1%
[46] Water Al2O3 20 5 15%
[47] Water Al2O3 11 5 8%
[47] Water Al2O3 20 5 7%
[47] Water Al2O3 40 5 10%
[48] Water Cu 100 7.5 78%
[49] Water Au 10–20 0.03 21%
[49] Water Ag 60–80 0.001 17%
EG Ethylene glycol

numbers for a cavity filled with a porous medium. Fig-
ure 1b illustrates that Cu and Ag nanoparticles exhibited
the largest average Nusselt number values due to their
highest thermal conductivity values. However, TiO2
showed the smallest value of the thermal conductivity,
which leads to a low average Nusselt number.
Sheremet and Pop [51] investigated numerically laminar
natural convection of a water-based nanofluid in a 2D
square cavity filled with porous medium. Sinusoidal tem-
perature distributions were imposed on both vertical walls,
and adiabatic conditions were assumed for the upper and
lower walls (Fig. 2a). The flow activities in the cavity were
assumed very small so that advective and Forchheimer
quadratic terms were ignored in the momentum equation.
Moreover, Buongiorno’s model [52] was used in their
study to model nanofluid. Their results illustrated that the
average Nusselt and Sherwood numbers increased with an
increase in the buoyancy ratio parameter, thermophoresis
parameter, and phase deviation and decreased with an
increase in Lewis number, Brownian motion parameter,
and amplitude ratio. Figure 2b illustrates that an increase in
Lewis number from 10 to 1000 resulted in an insignificant
decrease in the average Nusselt number. The same authors
[53] studied natural convection of a nanofluid in a cavity
filled with a porous medium using Buongiorno’s model
[52]. The nanofluid model in their study included Brownian
diffusion and thermophoresis effects. It was found in that
study that the local Nusselt number at the solid porous
increased with an increase in Rayleigh number, buoyancy
ratio parameter. Moreover, it was found that the average

123
 K. Khanafer, K. Vafai

Table 2 Summary of the correlations synthesized and developed by Khanafer and Vafai [28] based on the reported experimental data
Physical properties Room temperature Temperature dependent

Density qeff ¼ ð1  /p Þqf þ /p qp Al2O3–water

qeff ¼ 1001:064 þ 2738:6191/p  0:2095T
0  /p  0:04; 5  Tð CÞ  40
Specific heat ð1/p Þqf cf þ/p qp cp N/A
ceff ¼ qeff

Thermal expansion ð1/p ÞðqbÞf þ/p ðqbÞp Al2O3–water

beff ¼ qeff  
coefficient 4:7211
beff ¼ ð1  /p Þbf þ /p bp beff ¼  0:479/p þ 9:3158  103 T   103
T2
0  /p  0:04; 10 C  T  40  C
Viscosity N/A Al2O3–water
28:837
leff ¼ 0:4491 þ þ 0:574/p  0:1634/2p
T
/2p /p
þ 23:053 2 þ 0:0132/3p  2354:735 3
T T
/2p /3p
þ 23::498 2  3:0185 2
dp dp
1%  /p  9%; 20  Tð CÞ  70; 13 nm  dp  131 nm
Thermal conductivity Al2O3–water and CuO–water Al2O3–water
keff  0:2246  
¼ 1:0 þ 1:0112/p þ 2:4375/p keff 1 leff ðTÞ 0:0235
kf    ¼ 0:9843 þ 0:398/0:7383
p
47 kp kf dp ðnmÞ lf ðTÞ
dp ðnmÞ  0:0248/p 0:613
/p /2p /p
 3:9517 þ 34:034 3 þ 32:509 2
T T T
0  /p  10%; 11 nm  d  150 nm; 20  C  T  70  C

Fig. 1 a Geometry and L

boundary conditions for a 7.5
square cavity filled with a Tc Ag
porous medium. b Average 7 Al2O3
Nusselt number for several Cu
types of nanoparticles and for TiO2
6.5
various volume fractions g
(Bourantas et al. [50]) Tc Tc
6
Nuave

y
5.5

x b 5

4.5

d 4
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2
q″
ϕ

(a) (b)

Nusselt number decreased with an increase in the ther-
mophoresis parameter, Lewis number, and dimensionless
thickness of the heat-conducting solid walls.
Nield and Kuznetsov [54] analyzed analytically the
Cheng–Minkowycz problem for natural convective
boundary-layer flow of a nanofluid in a porous medium.
The Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation was utilized in
that study, and the homogeneity and local thermal
equilibrium in the porous medium were also assumed in
their investigation. The authors considered in their model
the effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The
similarity solution was obtained by the authors and found
to depend on Lewis number, buoyancy ratio number, and
the thermophoresis number. The same authors [55] studied
analytically the onset of natural convection of a nanofluid
in a horizontal porous layer medium. The effects of

123
Applications of nanofluids in porous medium

Nul
y 4.85
∂T/ ∂y = 0 4.8
∂C/ ∂y = 0 Le = 10
4.75
L Le = 1000
⎩ 4.7
T( y ) = Tc + Ar sin⎧
2π y
Jp = 0 g +ϕ ⎧ 4.65
⎩ L
4.6
⎩ 4.55
2π y
T( y ) = Tc + Al sin⎧ ⎧ Jp = 0
⎩ L 4.5
x
4.45
0 L
∂T/ ∂y = 0, 4.4
∂C/ ∂y = 0 0.05 0.01 0.15 0.2 0.25 τ

(a) (b)

Fig. 2 a Physical model and coordinate system, b variation of the average Nusselt number at left vertical wall with the Lewis number and
dimensionless time (Sheremet and Pop [51])

Fig. 3 a Physical model of y

convection in a trapezoidal C
porous cavity together with the D
Ag
coordinate system, b variation 11 Cu
of the average Nusselt number TiO2
L
interfaces with u for different Tc 10
(a) nanoparticles (Alsabery Nanofluid
Th Porous layer
et al. [56]) layer 9
ϕ
Nu
g
w 8

7
B
6
β

A L X 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2
φ
(a) (b)

Brownian motion and thermophoresis were studied. Their
results showed that oscillatory instability was found pos-
sible in the case of a bottom-heavy nanoparticle
distribution.
The problem of Darcian natural convection of a nano-
fluid in a trapezoidal cavity partially filled with porous
medium was studied numerically by Alsabery et al. [56]
using finite difference method. The left inclined wall was
maintained at a constant hot temperature and the right
inclined wall was maintained at a constant cold tempera-
ture, while the horizontal walls were assumed insulated. It
was shown that convection heat transfer increased signifi-
cantly by the addition of silver–water nanofluid (Fig. 3b)
and the heat transfer rate was affected by the inclination
angle of the cavity variation.
Natural convection heat transfer in a cavity filled with
three layers of solid, porous medium, and free fluid,
respectively, was investigated numerically by
Tahmasebi et al. [57]. The porous and free fluid layers were
filled with a nanofluid, and the porous layer was modeled
using the local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) model.
The authors used Buongiorno’s model for nanofluid and
incorporated the effects of thermophoresis and Brownian
motion. Their results showed that the average Nusselt
number was found to increase with an increase in Rayleigh
number, Darcy number, and the thermal conductivity
ratios. Sheremet et al. [58] investigated numerically natural
convection inside a porous wavy cavity filled with a
nanofluid under the effect of thermal dispersion using the
Forchheimer–Buongiorno approach (Fig. 4a). The left
surface of the cavity was a wavy isothermal wall, while the
rest of the walls were assumed straight isothermal walls.
All boundaries were assumed to be impermeable to the
base fluid and nanoparticles. The effects of Rayleigh
number, undulation number, thermal dispersion parameter,
and flow inertia parameter on the average Nusselt number,
streamlines, isotherms, and isoconcentrations were pre-
sented (Fig. 4b). Their results revealed that the heat
transfer enhancement was associated with Rayleigh num-
ber, undulation number, and dispersion parameter.

123
 K. Khanafer, K. Vafai

Tc Jp = 0
H

g ψ θ ϕ
y

Tc 0.8

Jp = 0 Tc
Jp = 0 0.6

0.4

X 0.2

Th Jp = 0
0 D
0

(a) (b)
Fig. 4 a Physical model and coordinate system, b streamlines w, isotherms h, and isoconcentrations u for j = 2.0, Ds = 0.1, c = 100, and
Ra = 50 (Sheremet et al. [58])

u
g

0.55
Nr=0.5,Nb=0.3,Nt=0.1,Le=10
0.50
v
r
Vw 0.45
– θ' (ξ,0)

Tw, Cw
0.40

T∞, C∞ 0.35 n=0,8,0,9,1,0,1,1,1,2

γ

0.30

0.25
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
y ξ

(a) (b)
Fig. 5 a Flow model and physical coordinate system, b effect of n on the local Nusselt number (Rashad et al. [59])

Moreover, uniform distribution of nanoparticles was found
to occur with an increase in Rayleigh number and a
decrease in the number of undulations.
Free convection boundary layer of a non-Newtonian
fluid in a permeable vertical cone embedded in a porous
medium saturated with a nanofluid was studied by
Rashad et al. [59] (Fig. 5). The authors incorporated the
effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis in their
study. It was found that both the local Nusselt and Sher-
wood numbers increased with an increase in the viscosity
index (Fig. 5b). However, as the buoyancy ratio increased,
both the local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers decreased. In
addition, it was found that as the Brownian motion
parameter increased, the local Sherwood number increased,
while the local Nusselt number decreased.
MHD convection of nanofluids in porous medium
Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect has received a lot of
attention by many authors in recent years due to its wide
applications in the cooling process of a nuclear reactor,
power generator, control of chemical waste and pollutants
dissemination, and metallurgical applications [60]. For
example, Sheikholeslami et al. [60] studied numerically
free convection heat transfer in a cavity filled with CuO–
water nanofluids in the presence of magnetic field. The left
side of their model was sinusoidal wall and subjected to a

123
Applications of nanofluids in porous medium

Fig. 6 a Geometry and the 7

boundary conditions, b variation a = 0.1
of average Nusselt number a = 0.2
6 a = 0.3
along the wall with constant
heat flux for different values of

⎩⎩
⎧⎧ – π/2
amplitude of the sinusoidal wall Tc
5
‘‘a’’ and Hartmann number (Ha)
at Ra = 104, Pr = 6.2 and

⎩ H
y

Nuave
2H
q″

= 1 – α⎧1 + sin⎧ π
u = 0.04 (Sheikholeslami et al. 4
[60])

⎩
3

B
γ

H
x
2
y S

x 1
0 20 40 60 80 100
H Ha

(a) (b)

constant heat flux as depicted in Fig. 6a. Their results Prasad et al. [62] conducted a numerical study on MHD
showed that the average Nusselt number increased with an natural convection heat transfer of nanofluid over a vertical
increase in nanoparticles volume fraction, dimensionless porous plate with variable heat flux. Two different types of
amplitude of the sinusoidal wall, and Rayleigh number, water-based nanofluids containing copper (Cu) and silver
while it decreased with an increase in Hartmann number. (Ag) were considered in their investigation. It was found
Javaherdeh et al. [61] conducted a numerical investi- that Cu–water nanofluid showed the greatest wall friction
gation of 2D steady laminar natural convection flow with performance compared with Ag–water nanofluid. More-
heat and mass transfer past a moving vertical plate in a over, the increase in the values of heat source parameter
porous medium subjected to a transverse magnetic field was found to decrease the fluid temperature for both Cu–
using Darcy model. Results were presented in that study for water and Ag–water nanofluid.
various pertinent parameters such as Grashof number, Malik and Nayak [63] analyzed numerically heat
porosity number, magnetic field number, and exponents in transfer and entropy generation of a MHD nanofluid flow
the power law variation of the surface temperature and inside an enclosure filled with porous medium (Fig. 7).
concentration, m and n. Their results showed that Grashof Time-dependent heat sources were applied along the short
number had a significant effect on the flow velocity due to sides of their model. The results of their investigation were
the augmentation in the buoyancy force. Furthermore, the presented for a wide range of pertinent parameters such as
increases in the temperature and concentration rates Grashof number (104–106), Hartmann number (1–50),
improved heat and mass transfer rates on the surface. Darcy number (0.001–1.0), and volume fraction of

y*
Streamlines Isotherms Energy flux
TH (1 – asin(2π t*/ω ))

Porous domain
L L/3 B0 g L/3
Gr = 106

Tc

Hot portion Cold portion

L/3
Adiabatic wall

L x#

(a) (b)
Fig. 7 a Geometry and boundary conditions, b streamline, isotherm, and energy flux vector plots at Ha = 50, Da = 0.001 with u = 0.0 (solid
lines) and u = 0.2 (dashed lines) for Gr = 106 and L/3 (Malik and Nayak [63])

123
 K. Khanafer, K. Vafai

Fig. 8 Streamlines (W),

isotherms for the nanofluid (hnf)
and the solid (hs) at Ra = 500, 8 0.95 0.95
Ha = 0, u = 0.04, and e = 0.3 7 0.9 0.85
6 0.85 0.75
(Sheikholeslami and Rokni 5 0.8 0.7
[64]) 4 0.75 0.65
3 0.7 0.6

Nhs = 10
2 0.65 0.55
1 0.6 0.5
0.55 0.45
0.5 0.4
0.45 0.35
0.4 0.3
0.35 0.25
0.3 0.2
0.25 0.15
0.2 0.1
0.15 0.05
0.1
0.05

A Tc

Nanofluid

g Th
y
o ζ
x Ha = 0 Ha = 40
B
rin
γ
rout
porous media

(a) (b)

Fig. 9 a, b Effect of nanoparticle volume fraction on isotherms (left) and streamlines (right) contours for u = 0 (—) and u = 0.04 (-)
(Ra = 105, Da = 100, N = 5) (Sheikholeslamia et al. [66])

nanoparticles (0.0–0.2) at a Prandtl number of 6.2. The
flow in the porous medium was modeled using Darcy–
Brinkman model. Their results revealed that higher heat
transfer and entropy generation were found for higher
values of Grashof number. Based on their results, the
maximum heat transfer was achieved when Da = 0.001
and u = 0.2 for Gr = 106 and Ha = 50 (Fig. 7b).
Sheikholeslami and Rokni [64] analyzed numerically
flow and heat transfer of a nanofluid in a cavity filled with
porous medium and considering the effects of Brownian
motion and the magnetic field. Thermal non-equilibrium
model and Boussinesq–Darcy law for fluid flow inside the
cavity were utilized in that study for CuO–water nanofluid
flow. Various pertinent parameters were considered in their
investigation such as solid–nanofluid interface heat transfer
parameter (Nhs), Hartmann number (Ha), porosity (e), and
Rayleigh number (Ra) (Fig. 8). Their results illustrated that
the heat transfer rate decreased with an increase in Nhs, but
it augmented with an increase in Rayleigh number. Further,
the porosity of the porous medium exhibited an inverse
correlation with the temperature gradient.
MHD CuO–water nanofluid flow and heat transfer in a
semi-annulus filled with porous medium and subjected to
constant heat flux were studied numerically by Sheik-
holeslamia and Shehzad [65]. Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li corre-
lation and Darcy model were utilized in that investigation.
The effect of inner cylinder radius, volume fraction of CuO
nanoparticles, and Hartmann and Rayleigh numbers was
investigated by the authors. Results illustrated that the heat
transfer augmentation decreased with an increase in
buoyancy forces. Further, the influence of adding CuO
nanoparticles improved with an increase in Lorentz forces.
Sheikholeslamia et al. [66] analyzed numerically the effect
of radiation and convection of a nanofluid inside a porous
medium using non-Darcy model. The effects of Hartmann
number, volume fraction of nanoparticles, radiation
parameter, Darcy number, number of undulations, and
Rayleigh number on flow and heat transfer within the
porous medium were investigated in that study. The results
of that study demonstrated that Nusselt number increased
with increasing the permeability of porous media. More-
over, the fluid motion was found to increase with an
increase in the volume fraction of nanoparticles (Fig. 9b).

123
Applications of nanofluids in porous medium
B0
6 2 5
A a c TWall
3 0 1
6 2 5 7 4 8
3 0 1
7 4 8
IN
Tin
6 5
uin (fully developed)
3
Y B TWall b d
X 7
(a)
Fig. 10 a Geometry of the problem with the structure of porous medium, channel aspect ratio is AC/AB = 4, b average Nusselt number for
different volume fractions of nanoparticle and Hartmann number (Servati et al. [70])
Forced and mixed convection of nanofluids
in porous medium
The analysis of forced convective flow and heat transfer in
a geometry filled with a porous medium received a great
attention by many authors due to its importance in many
applications such as heat exchangers, electronic cooling,
and heat pipes [67–69]. Using lattice Boltzmann method,
Servati et al. [70] studied the effects of magnetic field on
force convection flow of Al2O3–water nanofluid in a
channel partially filled with porous media (Fig. 10a). The
effect of various volume fractions of nanoparticles (u = 0,
3, 5 and 7%) and different Hartman numbers (Ha = 0, 5, 10
and 15) on the heat transfer rate was thoroughly explored
and discussed in that study. Their results showed that the
average temperature, velocity at the outlet of the channel as
well as the average Nusselt number increased with an
increase in the volume fraction of nanoparticles. In addi-
tion, increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles u
from 0 to 7% resulted in nearly 20% enhancement in
Nusselt number, while increasing Ha from 0 to 15 resulted
in only 6% enhancement (Fig. 10b).
Begum et al. [71] investigated numerically mixed con-
vection flow and heat transfer of nanofluids in an enclosure
filled with a porous medium and driven by a mid-moving
heated wall. The vertical walls of the model were subjected
to a sinusoidal heating boundary condition, while the
horizontal walls were assumed thermally insulated. It was
noticed from their results that the effect of mid-moving
wall was found to play a key role in enhancing the heat
transfer rate of the enclosure. Trimbitas and Grosan [72]
presented an analytical study of laminar mixed convection
heat transfer of a nanofluid in a long channel filled with a
porous medium and considering heat generation effect. The
7.2
6.8
6.6
6.4
NuAve
C 6.2
6
OUT
5.8
φ = 0%
6 2 5
5.6 φ = 3%
3 0 1 φ = 3%
2
φ
= 7%
0
1
7 4 8
5.4
D
4 8 0 5 10 15
Ha
(b)
vertical walls of their geometry were kept at a constant
temperature. The mathematical formulation of the problem
was based on the Brinkman–Boussinesq approximation and
using a two-phase nanofluid model. The effects of various
significant parameters, such as Reynolds number, Lewis
number, the buoyancy ratio number, the thermophoresis to
Brownian motion ratio number, Darcy number, and Gra-
shof number, on the velocity, temperature, and nanoparti-
cles’ concentration profiles were investigated in their study.
The maximum values of the dimensionless temperature
were found for Al2O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles.
A numerical study of MHD mixed convection flow and
heat transfer of Cu–water nanofluid in a square cavity filled
with a Darcian porous medium was carried out by
Sivasankaran et al. [73]. The top and bottom walls of the
cavity were assumed insulated, while the right vertical wall
was kept at a constant lower temperature than the left
vertical wall. Further, both left and right walls of the cavity
were moving with a constant speed Vo, where the effect of
partial slip was imposed on these walls. It was assumed in
that study that both the fluid and nanoparticles phases were
in thermal equilibrium. The results of that study illustrated
that the average Nusselt number decreased first and then
increased with an increase in the volume fraction of
nanoparticles when both walls were moving in opposite
direction (Fig. 11b). However, the average Nusselt number
was found to decrease when both walls moved in the same
direction (upward) as depicted in Fig. 11c.
MHD mixed convection flow and heat transfer of a
gold–kerosene oil nanofluid in a vertical channel filled with
a porous medium was analyzed numerically by Aman et al.
[74] (Fig. 12). Four other types of nanoparticles (silver,
copper, alumina, and magnetite) were also considered in
that study for comparison. The porous medium was
123
 K. Khanafer, K. Vafai

y, v

±v0 v0 5.5
2.1
λr=−λi=1 λr=−λi=1
Ri=0.01 5.0 Ri=0.01
adiabatic
2.0 Ri=0.1 Ri=0.1
Ri=1.0 4.5 Ri=1.0
Ri=10.0 Ri=10.0
g 1.9 Ri=100
Ri=100 4.0

Num
Num
1.8 3.5
Th Tc
3.0
1.7
B0 2.5
1.6
2.0

Φ 1.5 1.5
x,u 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20
adiabatic φ φ

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 11 Sketch of the geometry and coordinate system of the cavity (Sivasankaran et al. [73])

x channel. Ramzan et al. [75] studied numerically mixed

u(0,t) = 0 u(d,t) = 0 convective viscoelastic nanofluid flow past a porous media
T(0,t) = T0 T(d,t) = Tw with Soret–Dufour effects. The results of that investigation
y
showed that the flow velocity increased with an increase in
mixed convective and viscoelastic parameters but it
Kerosene oil Cylindrical shape
based nanofluid gold nanoparticles
decreased with an increase in the values of the porosity
parameter. Also, it was observed from the presented results
that Dufour number had an opposite influence on the
C(0,t) = C0 C(d,t) = Cw temperature and concentration profiles.
Mittal et al. [76] studied numerically mixed convection
flow and heat transfer of a nanofluid in a lid-driven cavity
y=0 d y=d
filled with a porous medium using Brinkman-extended
Fig. 12 Poiseuille flow of nanofluid with gold nanoparticles (Aman Darcy model (Fig. 13a). The effects of Grashof number,
et al. [74]) Darcy number, and nanoparticles volume fraction on the
streamlines and the isotherms were studied in that inves-
approximated in that study using Darcy model. Their tigation. The numerical results showed that the addition of
results showed that gold nanoparticles were found to have nanoparticles augmented the heat transfer coefficient
the highest rate of heat transfer followed by alumina and (Fig. 13b). It was also noticed from the results that the
magnetite. Further, porosity and magnetic field were found average Nusselt number increased with an increase in the
to have an inverse effect on velocity distribution inside the

V Adiabatic wall 3.5

3

Porous medium 3
2.5
Gr = 100, Da = 0.1
2.5 Gr = 10000, Da = 0.1
Tc Th
Nu avg

Nu avg

Gr = 100, Da = 0.01
2 Gr = 10000, Da = 0.01
2

1.5
1.5

Adiabatic wall V 1 1
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Volume fraction Volume fraction
(a) (b)

Fig. 13 a Schematic diagram of the flow configuration, b effect of average Nusselt number on solid volume fractions at Ri = 100 (Mittal et al.
[76])

123
Applications of nanofluids in porous medium

0.04 the most significant parameters accountable for different

Al2O3
results of velocity and temperature. Ethylene glycol was
Fe3O4
TiO2
found in that study the best base fluid compared to water
0.03 due to its higher viscosity and thermal conductivity. The
Cu
Ag results presented in this investigation revealed that the
u(y,t)

cylinder shape of Al2O3 nanofluid exhibited the highest

0.02
velocity followed by Fe3O4, TiO2, Cu, and silver nanoflu-
ids (Fig. 14). Srinivasachary and Kumar [78] studied the
effect of thermal stratification on mixed convection of a
0.01
nanofluid along an inclined wavy surface embedded in a
porous medium. The effects of various pertinent parame-
ters such as thermal stratification, Brownian motion, ther-
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 mophoresis, amplitude of the wavy surface, and angle of
y
inclination of the wavy surface on the velocity, tempera-
Fig. 14 Velocity profile of different nanoparticles in EG-based ture, and nanoparticles volume fraction for both aiding and
nanofluid when Gr = 0.1, N = 0.1, u = 0.04, k = 1, M = 1, t = 5, opposing flows were studied and displayed graphically.
K = 2, x = 0.2 (Aaiza et al. [77])
The results of that investigation demonstrated that an
increase in the thermal stratification parameter reduced
Darcy number for a constant nanoparticles volume fraction
velocity, temperature, local heat, and nanoparticle mass
at a Grashof number of 104 (Fig. 13b).
transfer rates for aiding flow, whereas the velocity, local
Unsteady MHD mixed convection flow and heat transfer
heat, and mass transfer rates increased and the temperature
of a nanofluid inside a channel filled with porous medium
and nanoparticle volume fraction decreased in the case of
was investigated by Aaiza et al. [77]. The channel with
opposing flow (Fig. 15).
non-uniform walls temperature was taken in a vertical
Sheremet et al. [79] studied numerically double-diffu-
direction under the influence of a transverse magnetic field.
sive mixed convection flow and heat transfer of a nanofluid
Four various shapes of nanoparticles of equal volume
in an open cavity filled with a porous medium using
fraction were used in the base fluids, ethylene glycol (EG)
mathematical nanofluid model proposed by Buongiorno
(C2H6O2) and water (H2O). It was noticed from the results
(Fig. 16a). The effect of Rayleigh number, Reynolds
of that study that viscosity and thermal conductivity were

1.0 1.0
1.5
Nr = 0.3, Nt = 0.1, Nb = 0.5, a = 0.1, A = π /6,
Nr = 0.3, Nt = 0.1, Nb = 0.5, a = 0.1, A = π /6, Nr = 0.3, Nt = 0.1, Nb = 0.5, a = 0.1, A = π /6,
Le = 5.0, ξ = 0.1 0.8 0.8
1.4 Le = 5.0, ξ = 0.1 Le = 5.0, ξ = 0.1

1.3 0.6
0.6
Aiding flow
f′

1.2 0.4
θ

Δ = 1.0, ST = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 Aiding flow

Δ = 1.0, ST = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 0.4 Aiding flow
Δ = 1.0, ST = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5
1.1 0.2
0.2
1.0
0.0
0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3
η η η
1.0 1.0

1.00 Nr = 0.3, Nt = 0.1, Nb = 0.5, a = 0.1, A = π /6, Nr = 0.3, Nt = 0.1, Nb = 0.5, a = 0.1, A = π /6,
0.8 Le = 5.0, ξ = 0.1 0.8 Le = 5.0, ξ = 0.1

0.95
Opposing flow 0.6
0.6
0.90 Δ = –0.5, ST = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5
Opposing flow Opposing flow
s
f′

0.4 Δ = –0.5, ST = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 Δ = –0.5, ST = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5

0.85 0.4
Nr = 0.3, Nt = 0.1, Nb = 0.5, a = 0.1, A = π /6,
0.2
0.80 Le = 5.0, ξ = 0.1 0.2

0.75 0.0
0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3
η η η

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 15 Variation of a velocity, b temperature, c nanoparticle volume fraction profiles with thermal stratification parameter (ST) for aiding and
opposing flows (Srinivasachary and Kumar [78])

123

Nu
L – 0.5
g – 1.5
– 2.5
Th, Ch
uin – 3.5
Tin, Cin, ϕ in x
– 4.5
0 L 0 20
(a)
Fig. 16 a Physical model and coordinate system, b variation of the average Nusselt number, c variation of Sherwood number at right vertical
wall with different Reynolds and Lewis numbers for Ra = 50, Ld = Ln = 1.0, Nr = Nc = Nb = Nt = Nd = 0.1 (Sheremet et al. [79])
number, and Lewis number on the average Nusselt number,
Sherwood number, streamlines, isotherms, and isoconcen-
trations was investigated in that study. Their results illus-
trated that the average Nusselt number increased with an
increase in Reynolds number or Rayleigh number and
decreased with an increase in Lewis number. Further,
Sherwood number was found to increase with an increase
in Lewis number.
Concluding remarks
This review summarized the latest studies on the applica-
tions of nanofluids in porous medium. The combination of
nanofluids and porous medium has a great potential for
heat transfer enhancement in various thermal systems and
opens wide areas for systems development. This is due to
the larger surface area/volume of the porous media and the
superior characteristics of the thermal properties of
nanofluids. This review cited previous investigations
associated with natural convection, mixed convection, and
magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effects in porous medium
using nanofluids. Several pertinent parameters such as
porous media geometry, thermal boundary conditions,
types of nanofluids as well as various thermophysical
properties were investigated in this review. To the best
knowledge of the present authors, turbulent flow of
nanofluids in porous medium has never been studied and
therefore more attention should be given to this area in any
future studies. Moreover, more studies on local thermal
non-equilibrium convective heat transfer of nanofluids in
porous medium are essentials to develop new models in
this area.
123
K. Khanafer, K. Vafai
Sh
– 2.5
– 7.5
– 12.5
Le = 1.0 – 17.5
Le = 10.0
– 22.5
40 60 80 Re 0 20 40 60 80 Re
(b) (c)
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