Statistical and numerical analysis of magnetic field effects on laminar natural convection heat transfer of nanofluid in a hexagonal cavity

Abstract

This paper presents a statistical and numerical investigation that examines the optimization and sensitivity analysis of the unsteady laminar natural convective heat transfer flow of Fe3O4-water nanofluid in a hexagonal cavity considering the impacts of a sloping magnetic field in one-component nanofluid model. The inclined walls of the cavity are maintained at a constantly low temperature, while the bottom wall is uniformly heated. The upper wall, however, is regarded as adiabatic. The nanofluid thermal conductivity model incorporates the impact of Brownian motion. The Galerkin weighted residual finite element method has been employed to solve the governing dimensionless equations. The results are provided regarding the average Nu, streamlines, and isotherms. The study uses response surface methodology to analyze the sensitivity of parameters such as the Ha, Ra, and nanoparticle volume percentage. Using a response surface policy allows for optimizing the process and identifying the most favorable circumstances to achieve the maximum thermal transfer rate. The flow pattern of the nanofluid is significantly affected by the magnetic field and its alignment. The numerical results indicate a significant rise in the average Nu as the nanoparticle volume percentage, magnetic field inclination angle, nanoparticle type factor, and Ra increase. Conversely, the Hartmann number and the nanoparticle's diameter have contrasting effects. When considering Brownian motion, the average Nu grows by 225.89 % for Ra = 106 with ϕ = 0.03 and 25.28 % for the other case. The optimal condition for heat transfer occurs when Ra = 106, Ha = 4, and ϕ =0.03 while keeping the other parameters constant.