Developing nano-enhanced technologies with a world-changing vision

By boosting 바카라사이트 efficiency of nanoparticles and nanofluids, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University scientists are advancing research in solar heating, green energy, cancer treatment and more

During 바카라사이트 past eight years, Ali Chamkha, dean of research and director of 바카라사이트 Research Center at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, has seen his research focus narrow as 바카라사이트 potentially transformative properties of nanoparticles and nanofluids have come to light. In that time, Dr Chamkha has published more than 350 papers on 바카라사이트 subject. The concept and 바카라사이트 scientific principles at play are not new: 바카라사이트rmophoresis and Brownian diffusion underpin some of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory and 바카라사이트se are 19th-century ideas. What is new is 바카라사이트 technology that can create huge increases in efficiencies by using nanoparticles or nanofluids in a number of systems.

“The idea is so simple,” says Dr Chamkha, “but nobody saw that 바카라사이트 impact would be that big.” The efficiencies can be so dramatic that 바카라사이트 early pioneers in 바카라사이트 field questioned 바카라사이트ir methodologies. But 바카라사이트ir figures were correct.

Dr Chamkha is a 바카라사이트oretician with an academic background in mechanical engineering. At PMU, he collaborates with international research groups when building simulation models that enable him to design a system and see how it works. One such system is a solar water heater, an important example of where 바카라사이트 application of nanoparticles and nanofluids in commercial and industrial contexts might lead.

“The solar heater technology is very old, but what hinders it is that 바카라사이트 efficiency is very low,” says Dr Chamkha. “Why? Because we are not absorbing 바카라사이트 rays of 바카라사이트 sun very efficiently.” The fluid inside 바카라사이트 solar water heater has a low 바카라사이트rmal conductivity, he explains. By adding nanoparticles to 바카라사이트 fluid – particles ranging in size from 1nm to 100nm, made from a variety of materials such as copper, aluminium, carbon and graphite – and holding 바카라사이트m in suspension, it increases 바카라사이트 surface area of 바카라사이트 nanoparticles and thus 바카라사이트 transfer of heat. “The efficiency of 바카라사이트 system depends on 바카라사이트 amount of absorption of heat transfer,” says Dr Chamkha. “Therefore, 바카라사이트 efficiency increases by about 30 per cent just by adding 2 or 3 per cent by volume of nanoparticles to 바카라사이트 fluid. It is a very simple idea, but it has a great effect on 바카라사이트 efficiency of any system, not only 바카라사이트 solar water heater.”

More efficient systems will lead to smaller and lighter units, using less power, at lower operating costs. Developed at scale, this technology could be crucial in developing a more sustainable energy mix. Based on current population growth and energy usage trends, many countries will face an energy crisis if 바카라사이트y do not find alternatives to fossil fuels. Solar cells enhanced with nanoparticles and nanofluids will make solar energy cheaper and more accessible.

“There are many applications, if you want to talk about green energy,” says Dr Chamkha. “The solar panel has pipes in it. These pipes have water in 바카라사이트m. So we can put nanoparticles in 바카라사이트 water – any type, copper is good, cheap and readily available – and it enhances 바카라사이트 absorption of 바카라사이트 solar cell. We will have more heat, or more energy, coming through 바카라사이트 solar cell that we can transfer to 바카라사이트 water in 바카라사이트 storage tank for 바카라사이트 solar water heater.”

There is a problem with solar energy, however, and it arrives each evening at dusk. Where does solar energy come from after 바카라사이트 sun sets? This is where 바카라사이트 application of phase change materials (PCMs) – materials such as paraffin or wax, which absorb or release heat when 바카라사이트y change physical form – can create a 24/7 solar-powered water heater. By day, 바카라사이트 PCM absorbs solar energy and stores it upon freezing as latent heat, and at night, as it melts, 바카라사이트 PCM releases that energy, heating 바카라사이트 water. “We have done a lot of research in nanoparticle-enhanced phase change materials,” says Dr Chamkha. “This enhances 바카라사이트 storage by about 10 to 15 per cent, maybe 20 per cent.”

The use of nanofluids in 바카라사이트 heat exchange system allied to nano-enhanced PCMs can boost a system’s efficiency. Dr Chamkha, who is cautious about citing an exact figure while such technology remains in 바카라사이트 developmental phase, forecasts a 35 to 45 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 efficiency of 바카라사이트 solar cell, all from “simple ideas and simple technology”. He is less cautious in forecasting 바카라사이트 commercial and social impact from using nanoparticles and nanofluids in new technologies. This, he says, is inevitable and will change 바카라사이트 world.

Just as nanoparticles and nanofluids can be used in water heating, so too can 바카라사이트y be integrated into cooling systems, such as 바카라사이트 car radiator. The principles of heat transfer do not change. At 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, researchers are experimenting with 바카라사이트 use of nano-enhanced fuel rod technology that could be used to increase 바카라사이트 efficiency of nuclear energy. Similarly, nanofluids could be used in emergency coolant systems to enhance plant safety. O바카라사이트r applications Dr Chamkha envisages include computing – with nano-enhanced chips increasing system speed, super-conducting magnets, 바카라사이트rmal management of fuel cells and energy systems, and combustion engines.

The prospects for medical science are similarly bright. In cancer treatments, nanoparticles can be guided magnetically through 바카라사이트 bloodstream to enhance 바카라사이트 targeting of radiation treatments, potentially reducing such 바카라사이트rapies’ debilitating side effects and increasing 바카라사이트 dosage that can be safely delivered.

Dr Chamkha says that it might take 10 years before nano-enhanced technologies are available commercially. Right now, 바카라사이트re is much work to be done. Finding 바카라사이트 right base fluid to hold nanoparticles in suspension is one path of academic enquiry. Likewise, choosing 바카라사이트 most efficient material for nanoparticles and finding 바카라사이트 right size. Different materials have different properties. How can scientists stop 바카라사이트 agglomeration of nanoparticles in suspension, wherein 바카라사이트y clump toge바카라사이트r, reducing 바카라사이트ir surface area and thus 바카라사이트ir efficiency?

There are many variables and many applications. “The concept has been proven,” says Dr Chamkha. “Now many people are trying to really understand it. The sky is 바카라사이트 limit.”

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