Thermal strategy due to flame shape source in a carbon nanotubes-water enclosed by trapezoidal cavity

Abstract

Thermal performance of working fluids is an important aspect in current industrial age. Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) mixed with water can perform better as compared to the ordinary water in terms of thermal properties. SWCNTs nanofluids is considered within the trapezoidal cavity with flame shape heated source to examine the effects on thermal distribution of heat inside the cavity and flow pattern. To analyze the significant behavior of isotherm and steam lines, variation of Rayleigh number, heat generation parameter and size of flame is adjusted. Mathematical model is developed through continuity, momentum and energy equations that stand in the form of a system of nonlinear partial differential equations emerged with the nanofluid's relations to handle the viscosity, density, shape of nanoparticles, and thermal conductivity. Constraints are adjusted according to the natural convection due to flame shape source within the trapezoidal cavity. Since the shape factor of nanoparticles also has a dominant effect on fluid that is why, various shape of nanoparticles is considered to attain the best thermal performance. All the emerging parameters are analyzed through variation of velocities, temperature profiles, isotherms, and streamlines. Entire analysis demonstrates that free convection and heat generation deliver significant variation in isotherm and streamlines with respect to increasing values of Rayleigh number. Nanoparticle volume fraction gives a considerable increase in the heat transfer rate inside the cavity. It is observed that heat transfer rate is maximum when r=0.6. Local Nusselt number increase for buoyancy driven flow. The presence of carbon nanotubes increases the temperature profile within the cavity.