Computation of thermo-solutal convection with soret-dufour cross diffusion in a vertical duct containing carbon/metallic nanofluids

Duct flows constitute an important category of modern thermal engineering. Optimizing efficiency has become a significant objective in the 21st century in, for example, heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), coolant or heat transfer fluid nuclear power reactor, exchanger design etc., this been achieved by either new materials (improved insulation properties) constituting duct walls, novel geometric designs, improved working fluids. Nanotechnology infiltrated into parallel with many other fields mechanical, medical, energy Motivated excellent potential nanofluids, subset engineered at nanoscale, present work, mathematical model is developed natural convection rectangular vertical containing nanofluid. The left right walls are maintained constant unequal temperatures, while front rear insulated. Thermo-solutal (double-diffusive) aqueous nanofluid various metallic nanoparticles (e. g., copper titanium oxide) carbon-based diamond silicon simulated. Tiwari–Das nanoscale volume fraction used addition to Brinkman Maxwell models defining properties partial differential conservation equations mass, momentum non-dimensionalized via appropriate transformations resulting boundary value problem solved second-order accurate implicit finite difference technique employing Southwell-Over-Relaxation (SOR). Mesh independence tests conducted. Extensive visualization solutions velocity, temperature, nanoparticle concentration (volume fraction) presented five different (silicon oxide, diamond, copper, silver), Grashof number, species (solutal) (i.e., percentage doping), Dufour Soret Prandtl Schmidt aspect ratio. It observed that rate (Nusselt number) both maximized minimized oxide nanoparticles. Further, clear lower when compared nanofluid, confirming achieve desired enhancement boundaries also. mass (Sherwood number), however, not significantly influenced any particular type nanoparticle, number depleted higher values Dufour, Prandtl, Soret, numbers However, Sherwood substantially boosted greater solid