Numerical Study of MHD Natural Convection inside a Cubical Cavity Loaded with Copper-Water Nanofluid by Using a Non-Homogeneous Dynamic Mathematical Model

Abstract

Free convective flow in a cubical cavity loaded with copper-water nanofluid was examined numerically by employing a non-homogeneous dynamic model, which is physically more realistic in representing nanofluids than homogenous ones. The cavity was introduced to a horizontal magnetic field from the left sidewall. Both the cavity’s vertical left and right sidewalls are preserved at an isothermal cold temperature (Tc). The cavity includes inside it four isothermal heating blocks in the middle of the top and bottom walls. The other cavity walls are assumed adiabatic. Simulations were performed for solid volume fraction ranging from (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.06), Rayleigh number varied as (103 ≤ Ra ≤ 105), the Hartmann number varied as (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 60), and the diameter of nanoparticle varied as (10 nm ≤ dp ≤ 130 nm). It was found that at (dp = 10 nm), the average Nusselt number declines when Ha increases, whereas it increases as (Ra) and (ϕ) increase. Furthermore, the increasing impact of the magnetic field on the average Nusselt number is absent for (Ra = 103), and this can be seen for all values of (ϕ). However, when (dp) is considered variable, the average Nusselt number was directly proportional to (Ra) and (ϕ) and inversely proportional to (dp).