Investigation of the thermo-convective characteristics of a flow passing through a partially heated channel filled with a porous medium saturated with a hybrid nanofluid

Abstract

As part of this study, we used three-dimensional numerical simulations to look into mixed thermal convection in a nanofluid that flows in a partially heated cylindrical channel without being able to be compressed. Our study specifically focused on two distinct configurations: the investigation of mixed thermal convection in the laminar regime using a hybrid nanofluid under both porous and nonporous conditions. The study adds to the scientific understanding of heat transfer processes in complex fluid–solid systems and contributes to the ongoing advancement of knowledge in the fields of thermal engineering and nanofluid research. This research involved investigations into varying nanoparticle volume fractions (0%–4%), Reynolds numbers within the range of 200–800, Richardson numbers between 1 and 2, and a fixed Darcy number of Da = 10 − 8 . Our analytical methodology involved a thorough assessment of temperature, velocity, and heat distributions within the hybrid nanofluid. The study we did showed that adding nanoparticles made the base fluid’s effective thermal conductivity much better. This made the transfer rate go up. Specifically, the thermal conductivity of the Al2O3-CuO-water hybrid nanofluid displayed noteworthy improvement. Furthermore, the incorporation of a porous matrix substantially enhanced the overall efficiency of the heat transfer process.