MHD effects on heat transfer and entropy generation of nanofluid flow in an open cavity

The present numerical work investigates the effect of an external oriented magnetic field on heat transfer and entropy generation of Cu-water nanofluid flow in an open cavity heated from below. The governing equations are solved numerically by the finite-volume method. The study has been carried out for a wide range of solid volume fraction 0≤Q≤0.06, Hartmann number 0≤Ha≤100, Reynolds number 100≤500 and Richardson number 0.001≤Ri≤1 at three inclination angles of magnetic field γ: 0°, 45° and 90°. The numerical results are given by streamlines, isotherms, average Nusselt number, average entropy generation and Bejan number. The results show that flow behavior, temperature distribution, heat transfer and entropy generation are strongly affected by the presence of a magnetic field. The average Nusselt number and entropy generation, which increase by increasing volume fraction of nanoparticles, depend mainly on the Hartmann number and inclination angle of the magnetic field. The variation rates of heat transfer and entropy generation while adding nanoparticles or applying a magnetic field depend on the Richardson and Reynolds numbers. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.