Natural Convection and Thermal Radiation Influence on Nanofluids in a Cubical Cavity

TLDR: In this paper, the effect of thermal radiation on natural convection of several water-based nanofluids H2O-(Cu, Al2O3, Ag, TiO2) in a partially heated cubical cavity where the left vertical side is heated by three identical and parallel elements.

Abstract: Received: 20 October 2019 Accepted: 14 January 2020 This study investigates the effect of thermal radiation on natural convection of several water-based nanofluids H2O-(Cu, Al2O3, Ag, TiO2) in a partially heated cubical cavity where the left vertical side is heated by three identical and parallel elements. The right vertical side is totally cooled, and the other ones are kept adiabatic. A developed code based on the finite volume method and the Rosseland approximation is used to solve the governing equations. Calculations were performed for three inclination angles of the rectangular heating elements 0°, 45° and 90°. The effect of governing parameters, namely, Rayleigh number, solid volume fraction, radiation parameter, dimensionless spacing of the three heating elements, their aspect ratio and different type of nanoparticles on the velocity contours, isotherms as well as local and average Nusselt number were considered. The results indicate that the inclination angle has a considerable effect on the dynamic and thermal fields, but its effect on the average heat transfer is insignificant. The total Nusselt number increases with the volume fraction of nanoparticles, the radiation parameter and the aspect ratio of the heated elements. The numerical results also revealed that the Cu and Ag-water nanofluid offer a better heat exchange.