Natural convection inside a C-shaped nanofluid-filled enclosure with localized heat sources

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate natural convection fluid flow and heat transfer inside C-shaped enclosures filled with Cu-Water nanofluid numerically using the finite difference method.

Design/methodology/approach

In this investigation, the finite difference method is employed to solve the governing equations with the boundary conditions. Central difference quotients were used to approximate the second derivatives in both the X and Y directions. Then, the obtained discretized equations are solved using a Gauss-Seidel iteration technique.

Findings

It was found from the obtained results that the mean Nusselt number increased with increase in Rayleigh number and volume fraction of Cu nanoparticles regardless aspect ratio of the enclosure. Moreover the obtained results showed that the rate of heat transfer increased with decreasing the aspect ratio of the cavity. Also, it was found that the rate of heat transfer increased with increase in nanoparticles volume fraction. Also at low Rayleigh numbers, the effect of Cu nanoparticles on enhancement of heat transfer for narrow enclosures was more than that for wide enclosures.

Originality/value

This paper is relatively original for considering C-shaped cavity with nanofluids.

Citation

Mansour, M.A., Bakeir, M.A. and Chamkha, A. (2014), "Natural convection inside a C-shaped nanofluid-filled enclosure with localized heat sources", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 24 No. 8, pp. 1954-1978. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-06-2013-0198