Numerical Analysis of Minimizing the entropy generation and investigating the heat transfer in flow through a channel around a block

Entropy generation confined flow around a block is studied according to the importance of a solid object’s cooling and heating process. In the current study, numerical simulation of laminar flow and heat transfer of nanofluids with nanoparticles of different shapes is considered—the nanofluids are water mixtures with either Al2O3 nanospheres or carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The incompressible Navier-Stokes and energy equations are solved numerically in a body-fitted coordinate system using a control volume technique. The flow patterns and temperature fields for different values of the particle concentrations are examined in detail. Furthermore, the effects of nanoparticle shape and concentration on heat transfer are studied. Furthermore, the influences of nanofluids on pressure drop and pump power are examined. On the other hand, the entropy generation minimization is considered as the optimization criterion. The results indicate that, in most cases, the nanofluids enhance the heat transfer and pressure drop. Interestingly, nanoparticles’ shape is critical in determining the fundamental mechanism of heat transport in nanofluids. Nanofluids with cylindrical nanoparticles exhibit a more significant heat transfer increase than nanofluids with spherical shape nanoparticles.