In this study, the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) is employed in order to
examine the fluid flow and forced convection heat transfer inside a
two-dimensional horizontal channel with and without obstacles. In order to
enhance the heat and thermal energy transfer within the channel, different
obstacle arrangements are posed to the flow field and heat transfer with the
purpose of studying their sensitivity to these changes. The results indicate
that, when the value of the Reynolds number is maximum, the maximum average
Nusselt numbers happens on the lower wall (Case 4). The paper extends the
topic to the use of nanofluids to introduce a possibility to enhancement of
the heat transfer in the channel with an array of the obstacles with forced
convection. For this purpose, the AgMgO/water micropolar hybrid nanofluid is
used, and the volume fraction of the nanoparticle (50% Ag and 50% MgO by
volume) is set between 0 and 0.02. The results showed that, when the hybrid
nanofluid is used instead of a typical nanofluid, the rate of the heat
transfer inside the channel increases, especially for the high values of the
Reynolds number, and the volume fraction of the nanoparticles. Increasing
the volume fraction of the nanoparticles increase the local Nusselt number (
1.17-fold). It is shown that the type of obstacle arrangement and the
specific nanofluid can exerts significant effects on the characteristics of
the flow field and heat transfer in the channel. This study provides a
platform for using the LBM to examine fluid flow through discrete obstacles
in offset positions.
Simulation of forced convection in a channel with extended surfaces by the lattice Boltzmann method
