This present review explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) methods in analysing the prediction of thermophysical properties of nanofluids. Nanofluids, colloidal solutions comprising nanoparticles dispersed in various base fluids, have received significant attention for their enhanced thermal properties and broad application in industries ranging from electronics cooling to renewable energy systems. In particular, nanofluids’ complexity and non-linear behaviour necessitate advanced predictive models in heat transfer applications. The AI techniques, which include genetic algorithms (GAs) and machine learning (ML) methods, have emerged as powerful tools to address these challenges and offer novel alternatives to traditional mathematical and physical models. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and other AI algorithms are highlighted for their capacity to process large datasets and identify intricate patterns, thereby proving effective in predicting nanofluid thermophysical properties (e.g., thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity). This review paper presents a comprehensive overview of various published studies devoted to the thermal behaviour of nanofluids, where AI methods (like ANNs, support vector regression (SVR), and genetic algorithms) are employed to enhance the accuracy of predictions of their thermophysical properties. The reviewed works conclusively demonstrate the superiority of AI models over the classical approaches, emphasizing the role of AI in advancing research for nanofluids used in heat transfer applications.

In thermal engineering, predicting nanofluid thermophysical properties is essential for efficient cooling systems and improved heat transfer. Traditional methods often fall short in handling complex datasets. This study leverages machine learning (ML) and metaheuristic algorithms to predict key nanofluid properties, such as specific heat capacity (SHC), thermal conductivity (TC), and viscosity. By utilizing Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Gradient Boosting (GB), and Linear Regression (LR), alongside metaheuristic models like Differential Evolution (DE) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), we achieve superior prediction accuracy compared to traditional models. The integration of these computational techniques with empirical data demonstrates their effectiveness in capturing the complex dynamics of thermofluids. Our results validate the precision of ML and metaheuristic models in predicting nanofluid properties and underscore their potential as robust tools for researchers and practitioners in thermal engineering. This work paves the way for future exploration of ML algorithms in thermal management, marking a significant advancement in optimizing nanofluid applications in industry and research.