Lattice Boltzmann simulation of nanofluid in square cavity

In this study, lattice Boltzmann method is applied to investigate the natural convection flows utilizing nanofluids in a square cavity. Al2O3 and CuO water based nanofluids with 1, 3, 5 and 10% nanoparticle volume fraction is used as the fluid. This study has been carried out for the pertinent parameters in the following ranges: the Rayleigh number of nanofluid, Ra=103, 104 and 105, the volumetric fraction of nanoparticles 1, 3, 5 and 10%, and the aspect ratio (Ar) of the enclosure is 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0. The effects of solid volume fraction of nanofluids on hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics are investigated and discussed. The average and local Nusselt numbers, streamlines, temperature contours and vertical component of velocity for different values of solid volume fraction and Rayleigh number are illustrated. Results show that by increasing Rayleigh number and nanoparticle volume fraction, average Nusselt number increases in whole range of Rayleigh numbers that lead to decreasing thermal boundary layer and enhancement of heat transfer of fluid in the cavity. As expected, Al2O3 with higher heat conductivity has higher Nusselt number with respect to CuO with lower heat conductivity