Numerical study of the convective flow behavior of a nanofluid in a channel incorporating a porous medium

Abstract

This research focused on numerical simulations investigating mixed thermal convection in an incompressible laminar nanofluids flow within a heated rectangular channel. Two configurations were studied: mixed heat convection in a laminar regime of nanofluids with and without a porous medium. The nanofluids considered were Al2O3-water, Fe3O4-water, and a hybrid composition of Al2O3 The study analyzed key parameters such as nanoparticles volume fraction (), Reynolds number (), and Richardson number (). The results indicated that the inclusion of nanoparticles improved the base fluid’s effective thermal conductivity, resulting in enhanced heat transfer. Notably, the hybrid nanofluid (Al2O3 ) and Al2O3 exhibited particularly good thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the introduction of a highly permeable and conductive porous matrix led to a significant enhancement in heat transfer within the system. Overall, the findings of this research contribute to a better understanding of mixed thermal convection in nanofluids and highlight the potential for improved heat transfer in such systems, especially with the use of hybrid nanofluids and porous mediums.