Numerical investigation of nanofluid free convection under the influence of electric field in a porous enclosure

Numerical investigation of nanofluid free convection under the influence of electric field in a porous enclosure Mohsen Sheikholeslami Department of Mechanical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran Electrohydrodynamic Fe3O4-Ethylene glycol nanofluid radiative and free convective heat transfer is reported in a porous media. Influences of nanoparticles, shape and supplied voltage on properties of nanofluid are taken into account. The hot surface is considered as positive electrode. Control Volume based Finite Element Method is employed to show the roles of radiation parameter, Darcy number (Rd)(Da), Rayleigh number (Ra), nanofluid volume fraction (phi) and supplied voltage (Delta phi). Results indicate that Nusselt number is an enhancing function of Coulomb forces and permeability of porous media. In order to find highest heat transfer rate, Platelet shape nanoparticles should be selected. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.