Simulating Nanofluid Forced Convection Flow by Thermal Lattice Boltzmann Approach

Abstract

Improving heat transfer using nanofluids has proven to be a promising option with many practical applications. However, the behavior of particles conveying energy for thermal transport depends closely on the dimensions of systems and channels where the flow evolves. Thereby, any fine thermal analysis should lean on a mesoscale approach applied at a microscale level. To this end, the multi-distribution functions–thermal lattice Boltzmann method has been taken to deal with convective heat flow and entropy generation in a channel with isothermal top–bottom walls and filled with a nanofluid (Cu/water). It was extended to simulate the flow governed by the Brinkman–Forchheimer Darcy model using the local thermal equilibrium assumption. The effects of nanoparticles’ volume fraction, Darcy number, porosity, heat capacity ratio and thermal conductivity ratio on heat transfer, entropy generation, average Nusselt number, and Bejan number are investigated. Among the salient results, it can be stated that the nanoparticles’ volume fraction increases heat transfer and entropy generation, but such a propensity can be affected by the porous medium permeability used. To sum up, the findings confirm the potential of the multi-distribution functions–lattice Boltzmann formalism to tackle forced nanofluid flows with heat transfer in porous media.