Effects of Magnetic Field and Inclination on Natural Convection in a Cavity Filled with Nanofluids by a Double Multiple-Relaxation-Time Thermal Lattice Boltzmann Method

Abstract

The present study numerically investigates the magneto-hydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of copper (Cu)-water nanofluids in an inclined cavity with one heat and one cold source. Simulations have been done via double multiple-relaxation-time thermal lattice Boltzmann method. Impacts of Hartmann number, Rayleigh number, inclination angle and the volume fraction of nanoparticles on the fluid flow and heat transfer performance are illustrated in terms of streamlines, isotherms, local, and average Nusselt numbers. Outputs demonstrate that the average Nusselt number decreases remarkably first as the inclination angle increases and then the average Nusselt number increases continuously and approaches a maximum value at a certain inclination angle for high Rayleigh numbers. In addition, the position where the average Nusselt number is maximized moves toward the lower inclination angle with increasing the Hartmann number for high Rayleigh numbers.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tao Zhang

Tao Zhang is a research engineer at Department of Energy Conservation and Clean Combustion Research Center, Shanghai Power Equipment Research Institute, Shanghai, China. He received his Ph.D. degree in Engineering Science in 2016 from Xi’an Jiaotong University. His research field includes enhanced heat transfer of supercritical fluids and nanofluids, hydrodynamics, and two-phase flow.

Defu Che

Defu Che is the Professor and Chair of Thermal Engineering Department at School of Energy & Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. He is a member of Boiler Committee, Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering. His research field includes boiler and heat exchanger design, multiphase flow and heat transfer, combustion of fossil fuels and pollutant emission control, and comprehensive utilization of low grade heat energy.

Yifei Zhu

Yifei Zhu is a chief engineer at Department of Energy Conservation and Clean Combustion Research Center, Shanghai Power Equipment Research Institute, Shanghai, China. He received his B.Sc. degree in Thermal Engineering in 1989 from University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. He is currently working on enhanced heat transfer and energy conservation in power plants.

Hongfei Shi

Hongfei Shi is a Professor at Shanghai Power Equipment Research Institute. He is a chief engineer at Research, Development and Service Department of Power Equipment and Technology, Shanghai Power Equipment Research Institute, Shanghai, China. He reserved his B.Sc. degree in Thermal Engineering in 1987 from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He is currently working on energy conservation and clean combustion in power plants.

Duanyu Chen

Duanyu Chen is a Professor at Shanghai Power Equipment Research Institute. He is a Deputy General Manager at Research, Development and Service Department of Power Equipment and Technology, Shanghai Power Equipment Research Institute, Shanghai, China. He is currently working on energy conservation and clean combustion in power plants.