Thermal performance analysis of hybrid nanofluid natural convection in a square cavity containing an elliptical obstacle under variable magnetic field

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to analyze entropy generation and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) natural convection of hybrid nanofluid in a square cavity, with a heated elliptical block placed at the center, in presence of a periodic-variable magnetic field. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, simulations were performed with a FORTRAN home code. The numerical methodology used to solve Navier–Stokes, energy and entropy generation equations with corresponding boundary conditions, is essentially based on the finite volume method and full multigrid acceleration. Findings The cavity is filled with Ag–Tio2/Water hybrid nanofluid. The main objective of this investigation is to predict the effects of body’s size (6 cases), type of applied magnetic field (variable or uniform), the non-dimensional period number of the variable magnetic field (VMF) (0.2 ≤ Λ ≤ 0.8), the inclination angle of the VMF (0 ≤ χ ≤ 90), Rayleigh number (5 × 103 ≤ Ra ≥ 105) and Hartmann number (5 ≤ Ha ≥ 100) on thermal performance, heat transfer rate, entropy generation and flow patterns. Originality/value To the authors’ best knowledge, this paper is the first numerical investigation deals with the entropy generation and natural convection of hybrid nanofluid in a two-dimensional cavity, with specific thermal boundary conditions, containing an elliptical block under periodic-variable magnetic field. Different combinations between flow-governing parameters were made to find optimal thermal performance.