Numerical study of nanofluid natural convection in a partially heated tall enclosure

Abstract

Abstract Numerical study of natural convective heat transfer of partially heated tall rectangular cavity filled with (Al2O3-water) nanofluid. Two opposing horizontal walls are adiabatic, while the right vertical wall is kept at fixed cold temperature, and the left wall of the cavity heated partially. The effect of Rayleigh number (Ra), Aspect ratio (A), and the volume fractions of nanoparticles (ϕ) on the isotherms, streamline, and the average Nusselt number (Nu) have been investigated. The dimensionless governing equations with the Boussinesq approximation have been solved numerically, by using the finite element approach. The results presented for a wide range of parameters including; (103≤Ra≤105, 5≤A≤10, and 0.02≤ϕ≤0.06). The result shows that; the Nu increase when the effect of Rayleigh number (Ra), and the volume fractions of nanoparticles (ϕ) increasing, and also it increase when the Aspect ratio (A) increasing.