Enhancing thermal conductivity of fluids with graphite nanoparticles and carbon nanotube
First Claim
1. A thermally enhanced fluid composition, comprising:
- an effective amount of a selected neat fluid having a selected thermal conductivity;
an effective amount of from 0.001 to 10 percent by weight of a selected carbon nanomaterial having an aspect ratio of from 500 to 5000 dispersed into said selected neat fluid, said selected carbon nanomaterial having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said selected neat fluid in which the carbon nanomaterial is dispersed; and
an effective amount of at least one chemical dispersing agent having a low hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of 8 or less.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid media such as oil or water, and a selected effective amount of carbon nanomaterials necessary to enhance the thermal conductivity of the fluid. One of the preferred carbon nanomaterials is a high thermal conductivity graphite, exceeding that of the neat fluid to be dispersed therein in thermal conductivity, and ground, milled, or naturally prepared with mean particle size less than 500 nm, and preferably less than 200 nm, and most preferably less than 100 nm. The graphite is dispersed in the fluid by one or more of various methods, including ultrasonication, milling, and chemical dispersion. Carbon nanotubes with graphitic structure is another preferred source of carbon nanomaterial, although other carbon nanomaterials are acceptable. To confer long term stability, the use of one or more chemical dispersants is preferred. The thermal conductivity enhancement, compared to the fluid without carbon nanomaterial, is proportional to the amount of carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes and/or graphite) added.
68 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A thermally enhanced fluid composition, comprising:
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an effective amount of a selected neat fluid having a selected thermal conductivity; an effective amount of from 0.001 to 10 percent by weight of a selected carbon nanomaterial having an aspect ratio of from 500 to 5000 dispersed into said selected neat fluid, said selected carbon nanomaterial having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said selected neat fluid in which the carbon nanomaterial is dispersed; and an effective amount of at least one chemical dispersing agent having a low hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of 8 or less. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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12. A thermally enhanced fluid composition, comprising:
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an effective amount of a selected neat fluid having a selected thermal conductivity;
an effective amount of a selected carbon nanomaterial having a selected thermal conductivity up to 20 percent by weight having an aspect ratio of from 500 to 5000 dispersed into said selected neat fluid, said selected carbon nanomaterial having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said selected neat fluid in which the carbon nanomaterial is dispersed; andan effective amount of at least one chemical dispersing agent having a low hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of 8 or less.
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42. A method of thermally enhancing the conductivity of a fluid composition, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a neat fluid having a selected thermal conductivity; selecting a carbon nanomaterial having an aspect ratio of from 500 to 5000 in an effective amount of from 0.001 to 10 percent by weight; dispersing said selected carbon nanomaterial having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said selected neat fluid in which the carbon nanomaterial is dispersed into said neat fluid; and adding at least one chemical dispersing agent having a low hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of 8 or less thereto forming a thermally enhanced fluid. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A method of thermally enhancing the conductivity of a fluid composition, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a neat fluid having a selected thermal conductivity; selecting a carbon nanomaterial having an aspect ratio of from 500 to 5000 in an effective amount of from 0.001 to 10 percent by weight; selecting at least one chemical dispersing agent having a low hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of 8 or less; dissolving said at least one chemical dispersing agent into said neat fluid forming a liquid medium dispersing fluid; adding said carbon nanomaterial into said liquid medium dispersing fluid while being agitated or ultrasonicated forming a thermally enhanced fluid composition. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A method of thermally enhancing the conductivity of a fluid composition, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a neat fluid having a selected thermal conductivity; selecting a carbon nanomaterial having an aspect ratio of from 500 to 5000 in an effective amount of from 0.001 to 10 percent by weight; selecting at least one chemical dispersing agent having a low hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value of 8 or less; dissolving said carbon nanomaterial into said neat fluid forming a liquid medium; adding said chemical dispersing agent into said liquid medium simultaneously while being agitated or ultrasonicated. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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Specification