The effect of various open cell aluminium foam geometrical shapes on combined convection heat transfer with nanofluid

Abstract

Mixed convection heat transfer and fluid flow through various an open cell aluminium foam around circular heat source shapes with constant temperature inside rectangular horizontal channel, filled with nanofluid is numerically investigated. An open cell aluminium foam is made of 6101-T6 alloy with pore densities (5, 10, 20, 40) PPI. The nanoparticles aluminium oxide (Al2O3 ) with volume fraction of (1-4) % and nanoparticle diameter of (15nm) dispersed in water are used. Six models of open cell aluminium foam shapes are employed around circular cylinder surface as test sections: (model 1) aluminium foam with angle (? =90? ), (model 2) the aluminium foam with angle (? =85.71? ), (model 3) aluminium foam with angle (? =81.47? ), (model 4) the aluminium foam with angle (? =77.32? ), (model 5) the aluminium foam with angle (? =73.3? ) and (model 6) the aluminium foam with angle (? =69.44? ). In all models, the aluminium foam length of (4cm) is used with Richardson number range of (0.1-10). The governing equations continuity, momentum and energy are solved by using the Finite-volume method (FVM). The effects of aluminium foam angle, nanofluid properties and Richardson number on the mixed convection were investigated. The results have shown that higher average Nusselt number is obtained with the use of nanofluid and 40PPI aluminium foam pore density with model (1). Average Nusselt number decreases with aluminium foam angle decreases with increased aluminium pore density. Average Nusselt number increased with nanoparticle volume fraction and mixed convection parameter increased. Higher mixed convection is obtained with the use of aluminium foam angle ? =73.3?.