Second Law Analyses of Forced Convection of Low-Reynolds-Number Slip Flow of Nanofluid Inside a Microchannel with Square Impediments

Abstract

In this study, the Finite Volume Method is employed in order to investigate the flow field, heat transfer and entropy generation of forced convection of Al2O3-water nanofluid in a parallel plate microchannel. Four square impediments are placed inside the microchannel to enhance mixing of nanofluid. The governing equations, which are accompanied with the slip velocity and temperature jump boundary conditions, are solved by SIMPLER algorithm. The study is conducted for the Reynolds numbers in the range of 0.1 ≤ Re ≤ 10, Knudsen numbers ranging of 0 ≤ Kn ≤ 0.1 and volume fraction of nanoparticles ranging of 0 ≤ φ ≤ 3%. The results show that by increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles or the Reynolds number, the average Nusselt number and the total entropy generation augment. Furthermore, as the Knudsen number increases, both the average Nusselt number and the total entropy generation rate decrease.