Investigation of Nanofluid Natural Convection Inside a Square Cavity for Two Orientations Using Lattice Boltzmann Method

Abstract

In this study, natural convection heat transfer of a water based nanofluid inside a square cavity is numerically investigated for two different orientations of a wall-heated cavity. The enclosure is heated by applying a constant heat flux while cooled at ambient conditions. Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to simulate nanofluid natural convection. The Brownian motion of nanoparticles is considered. LBM simulation is validated by comparison with experimental and numerical results of the literature. The effect of Rayleigh number (Ra = 103, 104, 105, 106), Biot number (Bi = 0.1, 1, 10, 100) and volume fraction of nanoparticles (Φ = 0, 1, 3 and 5%) on the isotherms, streamlines, velocity components, local and Nusselt number is analyzed for two oriented cavities. The bottom-heated cavity shows higher heat transfer rate than that of the cavity heated from the sidewall. The average Nusselt number increases by up to 6.81%. Furthermore, Biot number, Rayleigh number, and volume fraction of nanoparticles show significant effects on the heat transfer rate.