Numerical Study for Steady Natural Convection in a Newtonian Nanofluid-Filled U-Shaped Copper-Water Inside a Square Cavity Using Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM)

This study investigates the natural convection phenomenon in a closed square cavity filled with copper-water nanofluid under differential heating. The numerical modeling approach utilized is the lattice Boltzmann method. The cavity is composed of two stiff walls on the right and left sides, while the remaining two walls are adiabatic. Rectangular obstructions of varying heights (20% to 40% of the cavity side length) and fixed widths (10% of the side length) are present on the horizontal walls. Laminar flow of an incompressible fluid is considered in the simulations. A custom Fortran code is developed to solve the governing equations for flow and heat transfer, enabling the calculation of the Nusselt number. The investigation focuses on studying the influence of the volume fraction of the nanofluid (ranging from 0% to 10%) and the length of the fins on heat transfer. The findings reveal enhanced heat transfer when employing nanofluids, highlighting their potential benefits. The lattice Boltzmann method is employed as the numerical approach, facilitating accurate modeling and analysis of natural convection within the investigated cavity configuration.