Effect of nanoparticles on mixed convection heat transfer in a horizontal channel with heat source

A numerical investigation of mixed convection heat transfer with nanofluid and pure water from a heat source in a horizontal channel is performed. The walls of the channel are adiabatic and the heat source is placed at the bottom wall of the channel. Free flow at cold temperature enters channel and takes heat from heat source. Discretization of the continuity, momentums and energy equations are achieved through a finite volume method and solved with SIMPLE method. The Brownian motion of nanoparticles is simulated to determine the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid.The results show that using the nanofluid caused to heat diffusion and average temperature of source to increase. Also, increase in solid volume fraction causes increase in heat transfer especially at high Reynolds number. It is understand that with increase in ratio of length to height of source in its constant area, heat transfer decreases first and then increases.