Effects of Hartmann number on combined convection in a channel with cavity using Cu-water nanofluid

• Main Authors: Azad, A. K., Parvin, Salma, Chowdhury, Md. Mustafa Kamal
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundary conditions; Computational fluid dynamics; Convection; Convective flow; Finite element method; Fluid flow; Galerkin method; Hartmann number; Nanofluids; Temperature distribution; Viscosity
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4984710

Hartmann number effect on combined convective flow in a horizontal channel with a bottom heated open cavity using nanofluid has been studied numerically. The enclosure considered has rectangular horizontal lower surface and vertical side surfaces. The lower surface is at a uniform temperature Th while the other sides of the cavity along with the channel walls are adiabatic. The physical domain is filled with water based nanofluid containing 4% Cu nano particles. The fluid enters from left with initial velocity Ui and temperature Ti and exits from the right. The physical problems are represented mathematically by different sets of governing two-dimensional equations along with the corresponding boundary conditions. Using a class of appropriate transformations, the governing equations along with the boundary conditions are transformed into a non-dimensional form, which are then solved by employing a finite-element method based on Galerkin weighted residuals. The investigations are conducted for different values of Rayleigh number Ra (= 103 - 106) and Hartmann number Ha (= 0 – 20). Various characteristics such as streamlines, isotherms and heat transfer rate in terms of the average Nusselt number Nuav, and average fluid temperature θav are presented. The results indicate that the mentioned parameters strongly affect the flow phenomenon and temperature field inside the cavity, whereas in the channel these effects are less significant.