Numerical investigation of nanofluid convection heat transfer in a microchannel using two-phase lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

In this study, the laminar forced convection heat transfer of copper–water nanofluid in a 2D microchannel with one wall insulated and the other with constant heat flux is simulated numerically. In this paper, two-phase lattice Boltzmann method is used for simulation of the problem considering the intermolecular forces such as drag, buoyancy, Brownian, van der Waals and Born forces. The collision and streaming equations are used for both phases separately, and the effect of nanoparticles volume fraction on the velocity and temperature profiles is examined. It is observed that velocity decreases with increasing the nanoparticles volume fraction. Moreover, an increase in nanoparticles volume fraction raises the mean fluid temperature and increases the heat transfer rate. Further, the effect of an increase in nanoparticles volume fraction and their diameter changes on the Nusselt number variations in the microchannel is investigated. Also, the effect of considering viscous dissipation on the Nusselt number in different nanoparticle volume fractions is compared to the state without considering it. Finally, the effect of Reynolds number on Nusselt number is investigated.