MHD free convection of Al2O3-water nanofluid considering thermal radiation: A numerical study

This article explores the effect of thermal radiation on Al2O3-water nanofluid flow and heat transfer in an enclosure with a constant flux heating element. KKL (Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li) correlation is used for simulating effective thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluid. The governing equations are solved via control volume based finite element method. The effects of Rayleigh number, Hartman number, viscous dissipation parameter, radiation parameter and volume fraction of nanoparticle on the flow and heat transfer characteristics have been examined. Results show that enhancement in heat transfer has direct relationship with Hartman number, viscous dissipation parameter and radiation parameter but it has reverse relationship for Rayleigh number. It is also observed that Nusselt number is an increasing function of Rayleigh number, volume fraction of nanoparticle and radiation parameter while it is a decreasing function of viscous dissipation parameter and Hartman number. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.