Computational analysis of MHD MgO− water nanofluid flow inside hexagonal enclosure fitted with fins

Abstract

Fins are utilized in a variety of technical applications such as heat exchangers, electrical transformers, semiconductors, air-cooled engines, gas turbines, automotive radiators, hydrogen fuel cells, and so on. Nanofluids are innovative designed fluids with improved thermal conductivity as comparison to standard coolants. The nanofluids are more efficient and well repudiated in heat transportation evaluated to regular fluids due of nanoparticle presence in the base medium. The thermal efficiency of nanofluid is more efficient due to presence of nanoparticles. With this motivation, the objective of present article is to analyze the hydrothermal analysis of MgO−water nanofluid flow across a hexagonal cavity and inner circular cylinder. The inside cylinder is fitted with various rectangular fins. The upper and bottom wall of cavity is heated while other alls cold. The dimensional equations are transmuted into non-dimensional equations system by using suitable similarity alternation. The non-dimensional system of equations is tackled by utilizing Galerkin finite element method in computational COMSOL Multiphysics software. Different streamlines isotherms and Nusselt number profile plots are designed for significance of Rayleigh number (Ra), Hartmann number (Ha) and nanoparticle volume fraction (Φ) with different fins length in the flow. From the results, it is observed that convection, velocity and heat outcomes are boosted up for the Rayleigh number. The velocity components are reduces via increment in Hartmann number and nanoparticles concentration. Furthermore, analysis reveals reduced local Nusselt number outcomes are reduced for Hartmann number while inverse trend is noted for Rayleigh number and nanoparticle volume fraction.

Keywords

• Circular cylinder
• Fins
• Nanofluid
• Finite element method
• Hexagonal
• Heat transfer