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Purpose This study aims to explore magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) thermo-bioconvection of oxytactic microorganisms in multi-physical directions addressing thermal gradient, lid motion, porous substance and magnetic field collectively using a typical differentially heated two-sided lid-driven cavity. The consequences of a range of pertinent parameters on the flow structure, temperature, oxygen isoconcentration and microorganisms’ isoconcentration are examined and explained in great detail. Design/methodology/approach Two-dimensional governing equations in a two-sided lid-driven porous cavity heated differentially and packed with oxytactic microorganisms under the influence of the magnetic field are solved numerically using the finite volume method-based computational fluid dynamics code. The evolved flow physics is analyzed assuming a steady laminar incompressible Newtonian flow within the validity of the Boussinesq approximation. The transport of oxytactic microorganisms is formulated by augmenting the continuum model. Findings The mechanisms involved with MHD-mixed thermo-bioconvection could have potential benefits for industrial exploitation. The distributions of fluid flow, temperature, oxygen and motile microorganisms are markedly modified with the change of convection regime. Both speed and direction of the translating walls significantly influence the concentration of the motile microorganisms. The concentration of oxygen and motile microorganisms is found to be higher at the upper portion of the cavity. The overall patterns of the fluid flow, temperature and the oxygen and microorganism distributions are markedly affected by the increase of magnetic field strength. Research limitations/implications The concept of the present study could be extended to other areas of bioconvection in the presence of gravity, light or chemical attraction. Practical implications The findings of the present study could be used to multi-physical applications like biomicrosystems, pollutant dispersion in aquifers, chemical catalytic converters, geothermal energy usage, petroleum oil reservoirs, enhanced oil recovery, fuel cells, thermal energy storage and others. Originality/value The MHD-mixed thermo-bioconvection of oxytactic microorganisms is investigated under different parametric conditions. The effect of pertinent parameters on the heat and mass transfers are examined using the Nusselt number and Sherwood number.

In the present study, a detailed numerical simulations of liquid flow in microchannel heat sink with four different geometry of ribs: rectangular (RR), backward triangular (BTR), forward triangular (FTR) and diamond (DR) arranged symmetrically inside reentrant fan shaped cavities (FC) on side walls has been conducted and compared with smooth channel (SC) to acquire fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics between Reynolds numbers of 136−588. The local pressure, temperature and heat transfer coefficients were determined to understand the convective heat transfer regimes and to analyze local flow behavior. The three-dimensional conjugate heat transfer model, investigation is done extensively to identify the influence of geometrical parameters towards augmenting thermal performance with parametric optimization. Evolved governing equations are solved by using SIMPLEC algorithm. Attempt has been made to improve heat extraction ability with reasonable pressure drop by replacing the existing simple design of microsink. It is observed that Nusselt number and friction factor are in good agreement with previous experimental data. Based on detailed parametric study, it was found that FC-RR is good in achieving maximum Nusselt number, but due to higher pressure drop penalty giving lower performance. Out of four proposed, FC-DR is conferring upstanding balance between heat transfer, pressure drop and giving the best thermal performance of 1.97 at Re = 391.47.

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