Numerical analysis of mixed convection heat transfer and laminar flow in a rectangular inclined micro-channel totally filled with Water/Al2O3 Nano fluid

Abstract

A numerical analysis was carried out of mixed convection heat transfer for a laminar flow in a rectangular inclined microchannel totally filled with a water/Al2O3 nanofluid. The governing conservation equations are translated into a dimensionless form using the thermal single relaxation time and they modify the lattice Boltzmann method with double distribution functions. The viscous dissipation effects are adapted to the energy equation. The effects of nanoparticle volume fractions ϕ (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.04) and inclination angles γ (0° ≤ γ ≤ 60°) on the flow of the nanofluid and the heat transfer are investigated. The obtained results are presented in terms of streamlines, isotherms, slip velocity, wall temperature and Nusselt number. The results show that the higher values of the volume fraction of Al2O3 and the large values of inclination angles improve the heat transfer rate.