Numerical Simulation of Mixed Convection Flows in a Square Double Lid-Driven Cavity Partially Heated Using Nanofluid

Abstract

A numerical study has been done through an Al2O3–water in a double lid-driven square cavity with various inclination angles and discrete heat sources. The top and right moving walls are at low temperature. Half of the left and bottom walls are insulated and the temperatures of the other half are kept at high. A large number of simulations for a wide range of Richardson number of 0.1 to 10, Reynolds number from 1 to 100, inclination angle of cavity from -90 o to 90 o and solid volume fraction between 0 and 0.06 are performed. The results are presented in the form of streamline, isotherm and Nusselt number plots. The influence of solid volume fraction of nanofluids and angle of inclination on hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics have been analyzed and discussed. As a result, it was found that the heat transfer increases with increase in solid volume fraction for a constant Reynolds number, heat transfer also increases with increase in Richardson and Reynolds for a particular volume fraction.