Publication

Abstract : Natural convection is pivotal in many engineering applications, particularly in systems requiring efficient thermal management. Recent advancements in nanofluid technology have demonstrated the potential of nanoparticles to enhance heat transfer properties. This study investigates natural convection in wavy trapezoidal enclosures filled with -water nanofluids, focusing on the effects of temperature-dependent viscosity, nanoparticle volume fraction, temperature gradients, and magnetic fields. The analysis covers Hartmann numbers ranging from 25 to 100, temperature gradients from 10 to 30, and nanoparticle volume fractions between 0.02 and 0.06. Numerical simulations were performed using MATLAB with the Galerkin finite element method, domain discretization in GMSH, and parametric analysis via Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in Minitab. The findings reveal that larger temperature gradients and higher nanoparticle concentrations significantly enhance heat transfer, while wavy geometries induce turbulence and mixing, further boosting thermal performance. Conversely, increasing Hartmann numbers dampens convection currents, aligning flow patterns with the magnetic field and suppressing turbulence. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between geometric, fluidic, and magnetic properties. This could have consequences for enhancing heat transfer performance in solar energy collectors, electronic cooling devices, and heat exchangers.