Entropy generation due to natural convection of a nanofluid in a partially open triangular cavity

•Natural convection in an open triangular cavity filled with a Cu-water nanofluid was studied.•Effects of partial heater on heat transfer is studied.•Heat transfer is increased for high values of Ra number.•Nano particle volume fraction plays important role on heat transfer.

A numerical analysis of laminar natural convection with entropy generation in a partially heated open triangular cavity filled with a Cu-water nanofluid has been carried out. Mathematical model including partial differential equations and boundary conditions has been solved by using finite difference method. Particular efforts have been focused on the effects of Rayleigh number, nanoparticles volume fraction and position of the local heater on streamlines, isotherms, local entropy generation as well as local and average Nusselt number, average Bejan number, average entropy generation and fluid flow rate. Obtained results have demonstrated that the heat transfer enhancement and fluid flow attenuation with nanoparticles volume fraction, mainly for high values of Rayleigh number.

Graphical abstractStreamlines ψ, isotherms θ, and total local entropy generation Sgen for Ra = 104, ϕ = 0.03: δ/L = 0.1 − a, δ/L = 0.3 − b, δ/L = 0.6 - c.Download high-res image (210KB)Download full-size image