Nanofluids for Rotating Electrical Machines Cooling: Perspectives and Challenges

Nanofluids seem to show enhanced properties compared to base fluids in which nanoparticles are dispersed. For this reason, researchers are investigating their application in different engineering fields. However, their use for cooling rotating electrical machines has obtained limited interest so far. This paper presents a survey on the different features of nanofluids, as well as a brief review on some applications in the mechanical and electrical engineering fields. Then, the authors provide some preliminary analyses on using nanofluids for standard water-jacket electrical machines. On the basis of these preliminary evaluations, perspectives and challenges for their fruitful use in rotating electrical machines are drawn.