Numerical Investigation on Mixed Convection in a Cavity Filled with Nanofluids

Abstract

A numerical investigation of laminar mixed convection heat transfer in a lid-driven cavity filled with nanofluid under the influence of a magnetic field is executed. The left and right vertical walls of the cavity are insulated while the top and bottom horizontal walls are kept constant but different temperatures. The top wall is moving on its own plane at a constant speed while other walls are fixed. A uniform magnetic field is applied in the vertical direction normal to the moving wall. The governing differential equations are discretized by the control volume approach and the coupling between velocity and pressure is solved using the SIMPLE algorithm. The heat and mass transfer mechanisms and the flow characteristics inside the cavity depended strongly on the strength of the magnetic field. A comparison is also presented between the results obtained from the Maxwell and modified Maxwell models. The results show that the heat transfer is generally higher based on the modified Maxwell model.