article · Modern Physics Letters B
This research evaluates free convective heat transfer within a zigzag-walled cavity filled with a hybrid nanofluid made of water, magnesium oxide, and single-walled carbon nanotubes. Using a validated finite element modelling approach, the study investigated how heat transfer responds to different flow conditions, nanofluid concentrations, wall undulation counts, and obstacle shapes inside the cavity. The results show that higher Rayleigh numbers and an increased number of wall undulations significantly raise the average Nusselt number, demonstrating stronger heat transfer rates. Furthermore, comparing various internal obstacle geometries revealed that a diamond-shaped obstacle yields the best thermal performance by establishing favourable fluid flow patterns. These findings assist in understanding how complex geometry and advanced fluids interact to govern thermal behaviour.
Efficient heat transfer is critical for cooling systems, energy management, and industrial equipment. By revealing how specific interior shapes and corrugated walls interact with advanced hybrid nanofluids, this work helps engineers understand how to better manipulate fluid movement and heat dissipation within enclosed systems without relying solely on conventional cooling fluids.
The findings could inform engineers and designers working on thermal systems, heat exchangers, or specialised cooling devices that use complex geometries and hybrid fluids. Because this work relies on multi-physics finite element simulations rather than physical prototypes or field testing, it represents early-stage numerical research that requires physical validation before industrial deployment.
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This study examined the influence of geometric parameters on free convective heat transfer in a zigzag-walled cavity filled with a hybrid nano-fluid composed of magnesium oxide (MgO) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) suspended in water. Utilizing validated multi-physics software grounded in the Galerkin finite element method (GFEM), we systematically analyzed how variations in Rayleigh number (Ra) from 10 4 to 10 6 , nanofluid volume fraction ([Formula: see text]) ranging from 0.01 to 0.04, and the number of wall undulations (from 1 to 8) affect thermal performance. The findings revealed that both the Rayleigh number and the number of wall undulations had a significant positive impact on the average Nusselt number (Nu), indicating enhanced heat transfer rates. Among the various obstacle shapes investigated, the diamond-shaped configuration emerged as the most effective in promoting thermal performance due to its ability to create favorable flow patterns. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing heat transfer processes in complex geometrical configurations employing hybrid nanofluids, contributing to advancements in thermal system design.
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DOI: 10.1142/s0217984925501635
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