Nanofluids Research Reveals Enhanced Heat Transfer and Cooling Capabilities

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Arak University, led by Omid Ali Akbari, have conducted a comprehensive numerical simulation to investigate the mixed convection of water/Ag nanofluid in a circular cavity. The study has shown that the presence of nanoparticles enhances the heat transfer and cooling capabilities of the fluid, making it a promising candidate for various industrial applications. The research, funded by the Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, used a single-phase approach to simulate the flow and heat transfer of the nanofluid.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study aimed to explore the simultaneous effect of changes in nanoparticle volume fractions (qp) and the position of a circular lid-driven cavity on the behavior of nanofluid flow and heat transfer.
  • The researchers used a numerical simulation to model the flow and heat transfer of the nanofluid in the circular cavity, with the presence of hot and cold sources affected by changes in the angle of attack and the linear motion of the cold source.
  • The results showed that increasing the lid velocity causes the velocity boundary layer to penetrate and stimulate the entire flow field, leading to enhanced heat transfer and cooling capabilities.
  • The nanoparticle volume fraction (qp) was found to have a significant impact on the heat transfer coefficient, with higher qp values resulting in improved heat transfer performance.
  • The study also revealed that the placement of hot and cold surfaces can affect the fluid movement, with the creation of temperature gradients intensifying the movement of the current.
  • The researchers concluded that a higher nanoparticle volume fraction (qp) can increase the Nusselt number (Nu), which depends on the location of the hot and cold surfaces.

Statistics:

  • The study used a single-phase approach to simulate the flow and heat transfer of the nanofluid.
  • The researchers used Second-order and Upwind SIMPLEC algorithms to solve the flow governing equations.
  • Radiation effects were ignored in the simulation.
  • The results showed that the flow distribution in the cavity becomes more intense and stronger vortices are formed at Ri = 1.
  • The Nusselt number (Nu) was found to increase with higher nanoparticle volume fractions (qp).

Sources:

  • Akbari, O. A., et al. "Mixed Convection of Nanofluid Flow In a Circular Lid-driven Cavity Affected By Attack Angle Changes: a Numerical Simulation." Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, vol. 75, 2025, pp. 1-11.
  • NewsRx. "New Nanofluids Data Have Been Reported by Investigators at Arak University (Mixed Convection of Nanofluid Flow In a Circular Lid-driven Cavity Affected By Attack Angle Changes: a Numerical Simulation)." Mathematics Week, 4 Nov. 2025, p. 1054.