Flow Mode and Heat Removal Performance Investigation in a Closed Cavity Filled With Al2O3-water Nanofluid Having Two Pairs of Heat Source-sink

This study uses numerical analysis to explore the flow behaviour and heat removal capabilities of an Al ₂ O ₃ -water nanofluid in a closed U -shaped cavity which contains source-sink at bottom wall. Galerkin weighted residual based finite element method (FEM), an appropriate numerical method for capturing both regular and irregular domain is applied in the present research. The effects of pertinent parameters namely, free convection parameter Rayleigh number (10 ⁴ ≤ Ra  ≤ 10 ⁷ ) and nanoparticle volume fraction (0.01 ≤  φ  ≤ 0.1) is investigated here for laminar, steady and Newtonian water (Pr = 7.0) based nanofluid. The findings are expressed by streamlines, isotherms and average Nueselt number which are shown in both graphical and tabular form. In addition velocity profiles, temperature profiles as well as temperature gradient magnitude profiles are revealed for improved comprehension of flow visualization and temperature behaviour. According to the results, heat removal effectiveness is enhanced by increasing the value of Ra and φ in where comparatively Ra plays a crucial role in heat transfer rate. This work offers important information on how to use nanofluids to optimize thermal management systems in enclosures with several thermal situations.