Numerical simulation of the magnetic field and Joule heating effects on force convection flow through parallel-plate microchannel in the presence of viscous dissipation effect

Abstract

The effects of Joule heating, Hartman, Brinkman, and Reynolds numbers on the flow pattern and thermal characteristics of force convection flow through a parallel-plate microchannel are investigated in various nanoparticles volume fraction. Water–Al2O3 is considered as the working nanofluid while taking viscous dissipation effect (VDE) into account. The mid-section of the microchannel is heated with a constant uniform heat flux and influenced by a magnetic field with a uniform strength. The effective thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluid are calculated through a new correlation in which the influence of Brownian motion is considered. A control volume finite different scheme, along with the SIMPLE algorithm, is adopted to conduct the numerical analyses and solve the discrete equations. Contour plots of streamlines and isotherms are presented to graphically display the impact of the investigated variables. Furthermore, the values of the Nusselt number for the minimum temperature and maximum velocity are calculated and presented through figures. The results show that all of the Brinkman, Joule, nanofluid concentration, and Hartmann numbers have decreasing effect on the heat transfer. The conclusion is supported by the fact that all the aforementioned factors increase the temperature throughout the flow field. The higher the flow field temperature, the lower the heat transfer from the wall. Higher Brinkman number leads to the friction intensification between flow layers due to considering VDE. It can be said about the Joule heating that, since this term has an inverse relation with the squared velocity, increase in Joule number is followed by a reduction of heat transfer from the walls. Also, an increase in the nanofluid concentration increases the temperature throughout the microchannel leading to heat transfer deterioration.