Numerical investigation of nanofluids heat transfer in a channel consisting of rectangular cavities by lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

In this study, lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) simulation is performed to investigate laminar forced convection of nanofluids in a horizontal parallel-plate channel with three rectangular cavities. Two cavities are considered as located on the top wall of the channel and one on the bottom wall. The effects of the Reynolds number (100–400), the cavity aspect ratio (AR = 0.25, 0.5), the various distances of the cavities from each other ([Formula: see text]) at different solid volume fractions of nanofluids ([Formula: see text]) on the velocity and the temperature profiles of the nanofluids are studied. In addition, the flow patterns, i.e. the deflection and re-circulation zone inside the cavities, and the local and averaged Nusselt numbers on the channel walls are calculated. The results obtained are used to ascertain the validity of the written numerical code, which points to the excellent agreement across the results. The results show that, as the solid volume fraction of nanofluids is enhanced, the transfer of heat to working fluids increases significantly. Further, the results show that the maximum value of the averaged Nusselt number in the channel is obtained at [Formula: see text] for AR = 0.5 and [Formula: see text] for AR = 0.25. The interval [0.1224, 0.1304] is the best position for the second cavity. It is concluded that the results of this paper are very useful for designing optimized heat exchangers.