Numerical Investigation of the Entropy Generation Due to Natural Convection in a Partially Heated Square Cavity Filled With Nanofluids

A comprehensive numerical investigation has been carried out on the heat transfer performance and entropy generation within a rectangular cavity containing nanofluid. The cavity consists of two heat sources located on the bottom and a side wall. The effects of influential parameters including type and concentration of nanoparticles, radius of corner, width and thickness of heaters, heater distance from corners and aspect ratio of the enclosure were studied. The results showed that the Nusselt number enhanced by increasing the aspect ratio of the cavity, the distance of heaters from the corners, and concentration of nanoparticle and applying Cu as nanoparticle while it reduced by increasing the radius of the corner and the width and thickness of the heat sources. The entropy generation was found to be profoundly minimized by lowering the Rayleigh number. In addition, the entropy generation was attenuated by increasing the Eckert number, corner radius, the distance from the corner and concentration of nanoparticles and using Al₂O₃ as nanoparticle. On the other hand, increasing the aspect ratio of the cavity, width and thickness of the heaters augmented the entropy generation. Interestingly, the entropy generation of the system was lowered by just increasing the distance of one heater from the corner, whereas increasing the thickness and width of one heater resulted in larger entropy generation. This study provides valuable insight into the change in the amount of heat transfer and entropy by altering the geometry as well as fluid properties.