Free convection heat transfer in complex-wavy-wall enclosed cavity filled with nanofluid

• Published in: International communications in heat and mass transfer 2013-05, Vol.44, p.108-115
• Main Authors: Mansour, M.A., Bakier, M.A.Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Computational fluid dynamics; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Free convection; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General and physical chemistry; Heat transfer; Holes; Laminar flows; Laminar flows in cavities; Mathematical models; Nanofluids; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nusselt number; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Physics; Rayleigh number; SPH method; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Thermal properties of condensed matter; Thermal properties of small particles, nanocrystals, nanotubes; Wavy-wall cavity
• ISSN: 0735-1933; 1879-0178
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2013.02.015

A numerical investigation is performed into the natural convection heat transfer characteristics within an enclosed cavity filled with nanofluid. The left and right walls of the cavity have a complex-wavy geometry and are maintained at a low and high temperature, respectively. Meanwhile, the upper and lower walls of the cavity are both flat and insulated. The nanofluid is composed of Al2O3 nanoparticles suspended in pure water. In performing the analysis, the governing equations are formulated using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and the complex-wavy-surface is modeled as the superimposition of two sinusoidal functions. The simulations examine the effects of the volume fraction of nanoparticles, the Rayleigh number and the complex-wavy-surface geometry parameters on the flow streamlines, isotherm distribution and Nusselt number within the cavity. The results show that for all values of the Rayleigh number, the Nusselt number, increases as the volume fraction of nanoparticles increases. In addition, it is shown that the heat transfer performance can be optimized by tuning the wavy-surface geometry parameters in accordance with the Rayleigh number. Overall, the results presented in this study provide a useful insight into potential strategies for enhancing the convection heat transfer performance within enclosed cavities with complex-wavy-wall surfaces.