Numerical simulation over a nanofluid flow kinetics in a square duct driven by exothermic chemical reaction

Abstract

The present research has intended numerically the unsteady laminar natural convective flow within nanofluid-filled square cavity under the action of the exothermic chemical reaction. As the exothermic chemical reaction is an innate phenomenon in nanofluids applications we have considered this effect governed by Arrhenius kinetics energy in this analysis. The heat transferring fluid has been taken as water-based nanofluid with iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. The square cavity has been accurately propounded by non-uniformly heated left vertical wall, constant temperature of cold right vertical wall, adiabatic other two walls, and no-slip condition of all walls. The governing partial differential equations for nanofluid have been transformed into the non-dimensional form using similarity analysis and then modified into finite element equations. The influence of various values of the buoyancy parameter, Rayleigh number , nanoparticle volumetric ratio , Frank-Kamenetskii number , Hartmann number , inclination angle , and Prandtl number has been described numerically in this research. The results have been addressed and visually represented using streamlines and isothermal lines for velocity and temperature contours, as well as engineering recommendations. The Rayleigh number, Frank-Kamenetskii number, and nanosolid volumetric ratio all have a substantial influence on the convective flow regime, and the average Nusselt number rises as these parameters rise. Due to the greater value of the Rayleigh number , the average Nusselt number increased to 75.92%, and heat generation due to a strongly exothermic reaction (higher Frank-Kamenetskii number) can blow up the bounded solution. The water-Fe3O4 nanofluid achieves a greater rate of heat transfer (maximum 22.65%) than the base fluid. The findings of this study have been compared to other numerical results published in the literature, and there is a high level of agreement amongst the investigations