Thermofluidic transport phenomena of hybrid nanofluid in a porous wavy enclosure imposing magnetic fields

Abstract

The present work outlines an analysis of thermo-fluidic transport phenomena in an undulated walled porous enclosure filled with hybrid nanofluid imposing magnetic field under the free-convective mode of heat exchange. The complex wavy enclosure is heated isothermally from the bottom, whereas the wavy sidewalls are cold. The enclosure is packed with porous material and Cu/Al2O3 water-based hybrid nanoliquid. The externally generated magnetic field acts partially perpendicular to the left sidewall. The governing equations are solved numerically utilizing FORTRAN-based code adopting the finite volume method. The porous structure is modeled using the Brinkman-Forchheimer-Darcy model. The key parameters are judged for the study as modified-Rayleigh number Ram (reflects the convective strength), Darcy number Da (reflects the permeability of the porous structure), Hartmann number Ha (reflects the magnetic field intensity), the volume fraction of hybrid nanoparticles, etc. The results are presented systematically using streamlines, and isotherms contours. The assessment of heat transport is illustrated using the average Nusselt number (Nu) under a wide range of control parameters. It is found that the thermo-fluid flow alters significantly depending on the control parameters. The presence of flow dampening magnetic field and porous structure causes decrement of heat transfer, which is compensated (increment ∼ 9.4%) using the hybrid nanoliquid. The outcome of this analysis can be very useful for designing any device/ system involving thermal energy transportation in diverse fields of applications.