Nonhomogeneous Model for the Mixed Convection and Entropy Generation of a Nanofluid in a Lid-Driven Inclined Enclosure With Discrete Heat Source

Abstract

A numerical study on the mixed convection of Al2O3–water nanofluid in a lid-driven inclined square enclosure partially heated from below is performed based on Buongiorno's two phase model. The velocity of the nanoparticles relative to the base fluid is considered due to thermophoresis and Brownian diffusion. The thermophysical properties of the nanofluid are assumed to be dependent on temperature as well as the nanoparticle volume fraction. A control volume method over a staggered grid arrangement is used to discretize the governing equations. The discretized equations of two-dimensional continuity, momentum, energy, and volume fraction are solved through a pressure-correction-based semi-implicit method for pressure linked equations (SIMPLE) algorithm. The effects of relevant parameters such as nanoparticle diameter (25 nm ≤ dp ≤ 90 nm), Richardson number (0.1≤Ri≤5), nanoparticle bulk volume fraction (0 ≤φb≤ 0.05) on the mixed convection of the nanofluid is studied by considering the inclination angle of the enclosure to vary between 0 deg and 60 deg. The entropy generation as well as the Bejan number is evaluated to illustrate the thermodynamic optimization of the mixed convection. Both the heat transfer and entropy generation are higher in the nanofluid compared to the clear fluid and the rate of increment in entropy generation remains lower than the rate by which the heat transfer is augmented in the nanofluid. We find that due to the presence of the Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis in the nonhomogeneous model, a higher heat transfer is yielded as compared to the homogeneous model. The discrepancy between the homogeneous and nonhomogeneous models is significant when the mixed convection is dominated by the shear force. When the mixed convection is dominated by the thermal buoyancy, an increase in positive inclination angle of the enclosure creates a significant increment in the heat transfer.