Numerical Investigation of an Fe3O4 Nanofluid Filled in an Obround Enclosure Heated by Solar Energy

Abstract

This research work deals with a technological application of a 2D numerical solar Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic (MHD) investigation of an Fe3O4-Water nanofluid, filled in an obround-shaped enclosure. The cold temperature is imposed on a symmetric arc wall located at the semicircular side of the enclosure, while the hot temperature is related to a circular rotating heat source located in the middle of the enclosure. The remaining walls of the enclosure are supposed to be insulated. The cold wall is considered chilled using a solar refrigeration system. The heat source is considered as a blackbody receiving solar radiation. The mathematical problem, stating the governing equations of the considered MHD problem (continuity equation, Navier Stokes equations and energy conservation equation), is elaborated in its dimension and dimensionless form. The dimensionless form permits to generalize dimensionally the considered problem. The considered problem Numerical results, stating the influences of geometrical, magnetic and Fe3O4-Water nanofluid operating parameters on the flow (streamlines and velocity magnitudes) and thermal behaviors of the Fe3O4-Water nanofluid (temperature contours) are presented, discussed and interpreted. The geometrical parameters are the wall arc angle, the heat source velocity, and the radius. The magnetic parameters are the Hartmann number and the magnetic field inclination angle. The Fe3O4-Water nanofluid operating parameters are principally the Rayleigh number.