Natural convection in a triangular cavity filled with a micropolar fluid

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study steady natural convection flow and heat transfer in a triangular cavity filled with a micropolar fluid. Design/methodology/approach It is assumed that the left inclined wall is heated, whereas the other walls are cooled and maintained at constant temperatures. All four walls of the cavity are assumed to be rigid and impermeable. The micropolar fluid is considered to satisfy the Boussinesq approximation. The governing equations and boundary conditions are solved using the finite difference method of the second order accuracy over a wide range of the Rayleigh number, Prandtl number, vortex viscosity parameter and two values of micro-gyration parameter, namely, strong concentration (n = 0) and week concentration (n = 0.5). Findings The results are presented in the form of streamlines, isotherms, vorticity contours and variations of average Nusselt number and fluid flow rate depending on the Rayleigh number, Prandtl number, vortex viscosity parameter and micro-gyration parameter. The flow field and temperature distribution in the cavity are affected by these parameters. The heat transfer rate into the cavity is decreasing upon the raise of the vortex viscosity parameter. Originality/value This work studies the effects of vortex viscosity parameter and micro-gyration parameter in a triangular cavity filled with a micropolar fluid on the fluid flow and heat transfer. This study might be useful to flows of biological fluids in thin vessels, polymeric suspensions, liquid crystals, slurries, colloidal suspensions, exotic lubricants; for the design of solar collectors, room ventilation systems and electronic cooling systems; and so on.