Lattice Boltzmann simulation of free convection in nanofluid filled cavity with partially active walls – entropy generation and heatline visualization

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 2254-2283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Rahimi ◽  
Abbas Kasaeipoor ◽  
Emad Hasani Malekshah ◽  
Lioua Kolsi

Purpose This paper aims to perform the lattice Boltzmann simulation of natural convection heat transfer in cavities included with active hot and cold walls at the side walls and internal hot and cold obstacles. Design/methodology/approach The cavity is filled with double wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs)-water nanofluid. Different approaches such as local and total entropy generation, local and average Nusselt number and heatline visualization are used to analyze the natural convection heat transfer. The cavity is filled with DWCNTs-water nanofluid and the thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity are measured experimentally at different solid volume fractions of 0.01 per cent, 0.02 per cent, 0.05 per cent, 0.1 per cent, 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent and at a temperature range of 300 to 340 (K). Findings Two sets of correlations for these parameters based on temperature and solid volume fraction are developed and used in the numerical simulations. The influences of different governing parameters such as Rayleigh number, solid volume fraction and different arrangements of active walls on the fluid flow, heat transfer and entropy generation are presented, comprehensively. It is found that the different arrangements of active walls have pronounced influence on the flow structure and heat transfer performance. Furthermore, the Nusselt number has direct relationship with Rayleigh number and solid volume fraction. On the other hand, the total entropy generation has direct and reverse relationship with Rayleigh number and solid volume fraction, respectively. Originality/value The originality of this work is to analyze the two-dimensional natural convection using lattice Boltzmann method and different approaches such as entropy generation and heatline visualization.

Author(s):  
Yuan Ma ◽  
Rasul Mohebbi ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Rashidi ◽  
Zhigang Yang

Purpose This paper aims to numerically investigate the natural convection heat transfer of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-water nanofluid in U-shaped enclosure equipped with a hot obstacle by using the lattice Boltzmann method. Design/methodology/approach The combination of the three topics (U-shaped enclosure, different positions of the hot obstacle and MWCNTs-water nanofluid) is innovative in the present study. In total, 15 different positions of the hot obstacle have been arranged, and the effects of pertinent parameters such as Rayleigh numbers, the solid volume fraction of the MWCNTs nanoparticles on the flow field, temperature distribution and the rate of heat transfer inside the enclosure are also investigated. Findings It is found that the average Nusselt number increased by raising the Rayleigh number, and so did the nanoparticle solid volume fraction regardless the position of the hot obstacle. Moreover, enclosures where the hot obstacle is located at the bottom region proved to provide a better rate of heat transfer at high Rayleigh number (106). It is concluded that at a low Ra number (103-105), the higher heat transfer rate and Nu number will be obtained when the hot obstacle is located in the left or right channel. Originality/value In the literature, no trace of studying the natural convection of nanofluids in U-shaped enclosures with heating obstacles was found. Also, MWCNTs were less used as nanoparticles. As the natural convection of nanofluids in thermal engineering applications would expand the existing knowledge, the current researchers conducted a numerical study of the natural convection of Maxwell nanofluid with MWCNTs in U-shaped enclosure equipped with a hot obstacle by using lattice Boltzmann method.


Author(s):  
Didarul Ahasan Redwan ◽  
Md. Habibur Rahman ◽  
Hasib Ahmed Prince ◽  
Emdadul Haque Chowdhury ◽  
M. Ruhul Amin

Abstract A numerical study on natural convection heat transfer in a right triangular solar collector filled with CNT-water and Cuwater nanofluids has been conducted. The inclined wall and the bottom wall of the cavity are maintained at a relatively lower temperature (Tc), and higher temperature (Th), respectively, whereas the vertical wall, is kept adiabatic. The governing non-dimensional partial differential equations are solved by using the Galerkin weighted residual finite element method. The Rayleigh number (Ra) and the solid volume-fraction of nanoparticles (ϕ) are varied in the range of 103 ≤ Ra ≤ 106, and 0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.1, respectively, to carry out the parametric simulations within the laminar region. Corresponding thermal and flow fields are presented via isotherms and streamlines. Variations of average Nusselt number as a function of Rayleigh number have been examined for different solid volume-fraction of nanoparticles. It has been found that the natural convection heat transfer becomes stronger with the increment of solid volume fraction and Rayleigh number, but the strength of circulation reduces with increasing nanoparticles’ concentration at low Ra. Conduction mode dominates for lower Ra up to a certain limit of 104. It is also observed that when the solid volume fraction is increased from 0 to 0.1 for a particular Rayleigh number, the average Nusselt number is increased to a great extent, but surprisingly, the rate of increment is more pronounced at lower Ra. Moreover, it is seen that Cu-water nanofluid offers slightly better performance compared to CNT-water but the difference is very little, especially at lower Ra.


Author(s):  
Alireza Rahimi ◽  
Aravindhan Surendar ◽  
Aygul Z. Ibatova ◽  
Abbas Kasaeipoor ◽  
Emad Hasani Malekshah

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the three-dimensional natural convection and entropy generation in the rectangular cuboid cavities included by chamfered triangular partition made by polypropylene. Design/methodology/approach The enclosure is filled by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-H2O nanofluid and air as two immiscible fluids. The finite volume approach is used for computation. The fluid flow and heat transfer are considered with combination of local entropy generation due to fluid friction and heat transfer. Moreover, a numerical method is developed based on three-dimensional solution of Navier–Stokes equations. Findings Effects of side ratio of triangular partitions (SR = 0.5, 1 and 2), Rayleigh number (103 < Ra < 105) and solid volume fraction (f = 0.002, 0.004 and 0.01 Vol.%) of nanofluid are investigated on both natural convection characteristic and volumetric entropy generation. The results show that the partitions can be a suitable method to control fluid flow and energy consumption, and three-dimensional solutions renders more accurate results. Originality/value The originality of this work is to study the three-dimensional natural convection and entropy generation of a stratified system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 283-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Salari ◽  
Emad Hasani Malekshah ◽  
Mohammad Reza Sarlak ◽  
Masoud Hasani Malekshah ◽  
Mohammad Pilfoush

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the three-dimensional natural convection and entropy generation in a cuboid enclosure filled with two immiscible fluids of nanofluid and air. Design/methodology/approach One surface of the enclosure is jagged and another one is smooth. The finite volume approach is applied for computation. There are two partially side heaters. Furthermore, the Navier–Stokes equations and entropy generation formulation are solved in the 3D form. Findings The effects of different governing parameters, such as the jagged surface (JR=0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12 and 0.16), Rayleigh number (103⩽Ra⩽106) and solid volume fraction of nanofluid (φ=1, 1.5, 2 vol%), on the fluid flow, temperature field, Nusselt number, volumetric entropy generation and Bejan number are presented, comprehensively. The results indicate that the average Nusselt number increases with the increase in the Rayleigh number and solid volume fraction of nanofluid. Moreover, the flow structure is significantly affected by the jagged surface. Originality/value The originality of this work is to analyze the natural-convection fluid flow and heat transfer under the influence of jagged surfaces of electrodes in high-current lead–acid batteries.


Author(s):  
M. Sheikholeslami ◽  
R. Ellahi ◽  
Mohsan Hassan ◽  
Soheil Soleimani

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of natural convection heat transfer in a cold outer circular enclosure containing a hot inner elliptic circular cylinder. The fluid in the enclosure is Cu-water nanofluid. The main emphasis is to find the numerical treatment for the said mathematical model. The effects of Rayleigh number, inclined angle of elliptic inner cylinder, effective of thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluid, volume fraction of nanoparticles on the flow and heat transfer characteristics have been examined. Design/methodology/approach – A very effective and higher order numerical scheme Control Volume-based Finite Element Method (CVFEM) is used to solve the resulting coupled equations. The numerical investigation is carried out for different governing parameters namely; the Rayleigh number, nanoparticle volume fraction and inclined angle of elliptic inner cylinder. The effective thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluid are calculated using the Maxwell-Garnetts (MG) and Brinkman models, respectively. Findings – The results reveal that Nusselt number increases with an increase of nanoparticle volume fraction, Rayleigh numbers and inclination angle. Also it can be found that increasing Rayleigh number leads to a decrease in heat transfer enhancement. For high Rayleigh number the minimum heat transfer enhancement ratio occurs at. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no such analysis is available in the literature which can describe the natural convection heat transfer in a nanofluid filled enclosure with elliptic inner cylinder by means of CVFEM.


Author(s):  
Aminreza Noghrehabadi ◽  
Amin Samimi Behbahan ◽  
I. Pop

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study natural convection heat transfer and fluid flow in a square cavity filled with CuO-water nanofluid. Design/methodology/approach – The entire length of the bottom wall of the cavity is covered by two pairs of heat source-sink, whereas the other walls are insulated. The governing equations of fluid flow are discretized using a finite volume method with a collocated grid arrangement. The coupling between velocity and pressure is solved using the SIMPLEC and the Rhie and Chow interpolation is used to avoid the checker-board solutions for the pressure. Findings – The numerical results are reported for the effect of Rayleigh number, solid volume fraction and both presence and absence of thermophoresis and Brownian motion effects. The numerical results show an improvement in heat transfer rate for the whole range of Rayleigh numbers when Brownian and thermophoresis effects are considered. Furthermore, an increase in the Rayleigh number and nanoparticle volume fraction in both cases – when Brownian and thermophoresis effects are neglected or considered – has an excellent influence on heat transfer of nanofluids. Originality/value – The area of nanofluids is very original.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 4811-4836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyyed Masoud Seyyedi ◽  
A.S. Dogonchi ◽  
M. Hashemi-Tilehnoee ◽  
D.D. Ganji ◽  
Ali J. Chamkha

Purpose Natural convection heat transfer analysis can be completed using entropy generation analysis. This study aims to accomplish both the natural convection heat transfer and entropy generation analyses for a hexagonal cavity loaded with Cu-H2O nanoliquid subjected to an oriented magnetic field. Design/methodology/approach Control volume-based finite element method is applied to solve the non-dimensional forms of governing equations and then, the entropy generation number is computed. Findings The results portray that both the average Nusselt and entropy generation numbers boost with increasing aspect ratio for each value of the undulation number, while both of them decrease with increasing the undulation number for each amplitude parameter. There is a maximum value for the entropy generation number at a specified value of Hartmann number. Also, there is a minimum value for the entropy generation number at a specified value of angle of the magnetic field. When the volume fraction of nanoparticles grows, the average Nusselt number increases and the entropy generation number declines. The entropy generation number attains to a maximum value at Ha = 14 for each value of aspect ratio. The average Nusselt number ascends 2.9 per cent and entropy generation number decreases 1.3 per cent for Ha = 0 when ϕ increases from 0 to 4 per cent. Originality/value A hexagonal enclosure (complex geometry), which has many industrial applications, is chosen in this study. Not only the characteristics of heat transfer are investigated but also entropy generation analysis is performed in this study. The ecological coefficient of performance for enclosures is calculated, too.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 3659-3684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasul Mohebbi ◽  
Mohsen Izadi ◽  
Nor Azwadi Che Sidik ◽  
Gholamhassan Najafi

Purpose This paper aims to study the natural convection of a nanofluid inside a cavity which contains obstacles using lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The results have focused mainly on various parameters such as number and aspect ratio of roughness elements and different nanoparticle volume fraction. The isotherms and streamlines are presented to describe the hydrodynamics and thermal behaviors of the nanofluid flow throughout the enclosure. Design/methodology/approach The methodology of this paper consists of mathematical model, statement of the problem, nanofluid thermophysical properties, lattice Boltzmann method, LBM for fluid flow, LBM for heat transfer, numerical strategy, boundary conditions, Nusselt (Nu) number calculation, code validation and grid independence. Findings Natural convection heat transfers of a nanofluid inside cavities with and without rough elements have been studied. Lattice Boltzmann technique has been used as numerical approach. The results showed that at higher Rayleigh number (Ra = 106), there are denser streamlines near the left (source) and right wall (sink) which results in better cooling and enhances convective heat rejection to the heat sink. After a distinctive aspect ratio of rough elements (A = 0.1), change in streamline pattern which arises from increasing of aspect ratio does not have an important effect on isotherms. Results indicate that for lower Rayleigh number (Ra = 103), no variation in average Nu is observed with increasing in number of roughness, while for higher one (Ra = 106) average Nu decreases from N = 0 (smooth cavity) up to N = 4 and then remains constant (N = 6). Originality/value Currently, no argumentative and comprehensive extraction can be concluded without fully understanding the role of different arrangement of roughness. Some geometrical parameters such as aspect ratio, number and position of rough elements have been considered. Also, the effect of nanoparticle concentration was studied at different Ra number. Briefly, using LBM, this paper aims to investigate the natural convection of a nanofluid flow on the thermal and hydrodynamics parameters in the presence of rough element with various arrangements.


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