Mixed Convection of Nanofluids inside a Lid-Driven Cavity Heated by a Central Square Heat Source

• Published in: Fluid dynamics & materials processing 2017-01, Vol.13 (3), p.189
• Main Authors: Bensouici, Fatima-zohra, Boudebous, Saadoun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Aluminum oxide; Computer simulation; Copper; Enclosure; Enclosures; Fluid flow; Heat transfer; Laminar mixing; Nanofluids; Nanoparticles; Reynolds number; Richardson number; Silver; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 1555-256X; 1555-2578
• DOI: 10.3970/fdmp.2017.013.189

A numerical work has been performed to analyze the laminar mixed convection of nanofluids confined in a lid driven square enclosure with a central square and isotherm heat source. All the walls are cooled at constant temperature, and the top wall slides rightward at constant velocity. The simulations considered four types of nanofluids (Cu, Ag, Al2O3 and TiO2)-Water. The governing equations were solved using finite volume approach by the SIMPLER algorithm. Comparisons with previously published work are performed and found to be in good agreement. The influence of pertinent parameters such as Richardson number, size of the heat source, solid volume fraction and type of nanofluid, on the heat transfer characteristics of mixed convection is studied. For all the simulations, the Reynolds number is fixed to Re=100. The results show that a better cooling of the heat source is obtained at a size of S=0.25 for copper-water nanofluid at Ri=100 where the buoyancy is stronger. As a consequence, we can economise the lid driven energy. The results also show that adding nanoparticles into pure water improves heat transfer in the enclosure. Furthermore, Copper and Silver-water nanofluids yield the best heat transfer enhancement in comparison with the other nanofluids.