Combined effect of Reynolds and Grashof numbers on mixed convection in a lid-driven T-shaped cavity filled with water-Al2O3 nanofluid

Lid-driven mixed convection has been given immense importance due to its wide range of applications. A T-shaped cavity is introduced and pertinent parameters controlling mixed convection phenomenon are analyzed in this paper. Water-Al2O3 nanofluid is considered inside the cavity to augment heat transfer rate. Galerkin weighted residual method of finite element analysis is applied for the numerical simulations. Numerical solution is obtained for different solid volume fractions of nanofluid, (ϕ = 0-0.15), Grashof numbers (Gr = 0.1-5000) and Reynolds numbers (Re = 0.31-1000) in laminar flow regime. Special attention is given on the analysis of flow at the pure mixed convection regime. It is found that Grashof, Reynolds and Richardson numbers along with solid volume fraction of nanofluid have significant effect on heat transfer characteristics inside the cavity. Results are presented using streamline and isotherm contours along with related variation of average Nusselt numbers of the heated wall and average fluid temperature inside the cavity.