Numerical study of heat generating γ Al2O3– H2O nanofluid inside a square cavity with multiple obstacles of different shapes

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A numerical research on uniformly heat generating γ Al2O3–H2O nanofluid filled square cavity with multiple obstacles of different shapes is carried out. The cavity is assumed to be heated at bottom and cooled by vertical walls with linearly varying temperature. An adiabatic condition is assumed at the top of the cavity. Circular, square and triangular shaped obstacles are considered. The mathematical model has been solved using Galerkin finite element method. Results are presented for streamlines, isotherms, local and mean Nusselt numbers. Multiple rotating cells are observed in the streamlines. It is found that the local and mean Nusselt numbers increase with nanoparticle volume fraction and higher heat transfer is achieved in the cavity with triangular obstacles.