Lattice Boltzmann simulation of nanofluid in lid-driven cavity

Lattice Boltzmann Method is applied to investigate the mixed convection flows utilizing nanofluids in a lid-driven cavity. The fluid in the cavity is a water-based nanofluid containing Cu, Cuo or Al2O3 nanoparticles. The effects of Reynolds number and solid volume fraction for different nanofluids on hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics are investigated. The effective thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluid are calculated by Chon and Brinkman models, respectively. The results indicate that the effects of solid volume fraction grow stronger sequentially for Al2O3, Cuo and Cu. In addition the increases of Reynolds number leads to decrease the solid concentration effect. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.