This study investigated experimentally the CHF phenomena of aqueous-based alumina nanofluids in single microchannels, and assessed the validity of a number of microchannel based CHF correlations using experimental nanofluids data. While usual approaches for CHF enhancement are through the modification of different tube surfaces or employing different inserts, this work showed that CHF in microchannels could be enhanced significantly by the inclusion of small concentrations of nanoparticles. The CHF value was found to increase with increase of mass flux, initial subcooling and alumina nanoparticle concentrations. The maximum subcooled CHF enhancement occurred at the lowest mass flux and highest alumina concentration within the experimental range. In addition, the Lee and Mudawar correlation was modified to predict the critical heat flux of water and nanofluids. The new model was examined by experimental data and 24% and 30% mean absolute error were observed for water and alumina nanofluid respectively. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Institution of Chemical Engineers.