On the entropy analysis and hydrothermal behavior of buoyancy-driven magnetized hybrid nanofluid flow within a semi-circular chamber fitted with a triangular heater: Application to thermal energy storage for energy management

Abstract

Entropy generation is treated as a noteworthy criterion for effective operation in thermal storage systems. Buoyancy-driven laminar flows within the semi-circular chamber have wide-ranging applications within the aviation industry, solar thermal receivers, heat exchangers, chemical mixing chambers, electronic components, etc. Nanofluids do explore significant heat transport capabilities in industrial, technical, and commercial sectors. The stable dispersion of metallic or oxide tiny nano-level particles and water, named hybrid nanofluids signifies the extended version of classical nanofluids. Hybrid nanofluids reveal superior thermal conductivity and are significantly used as an advanced heat transport medium in thermal storage, solar receiver, electronic cooling, heat pipes, space, biomedical, etc. With such an objective, the performed analysis unfolds the hydrothermal and entropy investigation of magnetically driven buoyancy-induced Al2O3-TiO2-water hybrid nanofluids through a semi-circular chamber having a triangular heater fitted from the bottom wall. The curved periphery is made cold, while the remaining triangular parts and bottom walls are made heated and insulated, respectively. Several triangular-size heaters are set to the lower wall and variations in entropy plus hydrothermal scenario are noted. Leading equations are transferred to dimensionless form using apposite similarity transformation. The Galerkin finite element discretization procedure is merged to execute the numeric simulation. Both numeric and experimental studies are clutched to compare the present result's accuracy. Various velocities, streamlines, isotherms, Bejan numbers, entropy profiles, and Nusselt number profiles are presented to address the parametric influence of Hartmann numbers, solid particle concentrations, and Rayleigh numbers.