Abstract: The functionally thermal fluids made by suspending fine phase change material (PCM) particles (dispersion phase) in a carrier fluid (continuum phase) have spontaneously flowability and large heat (or cold) storage. Some complex or nonlinear physical phenomena both in heat transfer and fluid flow are displayed. The natural convection characteristics of this kind of fluids are summarized，including heat transfer enhancement，stability，effects of particle size and some thermophysical properties. The future research on utilizing this kind of fluids was also discussed.

摘要： 人工合成的潜热型功能性热流体同时具有流动性与高的蓄热或蓄冷能力，在自然对流的流动与传热中表现有复杂的非线性传热和流动现象。本文总结了该类流体在自然对流传热方面的最新研究进展，包括：自然对流的强化传热及其稳定性，乳液中微粒的粒径及其乳液热物性的影响，对该方面将来的发展趋势进行了展望。