Numerical Study and Statistical Approach of the Impact of Nanofluids on Mixed Convection in a Ventilated Cavity

Abstract

In contemporary power engineering and microelectronics, the efficiency of cooling systems is of crucial importance. To meet this requirement, specialized approaches and the use of nanofluids are employed to improve the heat dissipation of heat-generating components. This study presents a methodology based on a numerical investigation and statistical analysis using the Response Surface Method (RSM) to estimate the average Nusselt number associated with mixed convection in a ventilated cavity. A quadratic mathematical model was developed by RSM, the precision of which was assessed via a factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a coefficient of determination R2 close to 1. The study considered pure water and mixtures of nanoparticles (Cu, Ag, and TiO2) as heat transfer fluids, exploring various values of the Richardson number (0.1 to 100) and volume fractions (0–8%). The outcomes demonstrate a direct relationship between the volume fraction of nanoparticles and the augmentation of heat transfer, wherein silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles exhibit superior efficacy in enhancing heat exchange. The RSM evaluation highlights that a Richardson number of around 61, associated with copper (Cu) and/or silver (Ag) nanoparticles with a volume fraction of around 8%, leads to a higher average Nusselt number, reaching up to 47. Additionally, multi-objective optimization identifies optimal levels of volume fractions (8%) and Richardson numbers (61) with copper (Cu) nanoparticles, with a desirability high reaching 0.9999 (99.99%).