Numerical Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis Using RSM on Natural Convective Heat Exchanger Containing Hybrid Nanofluids

This work presents a numerical analysis for exploring heat transfer phenomena in an enclosed cavity using magnetohydrodynamics natural convection. Because of the numerous real-world applications of nanofluids and hybrid nanofluids in industrial and thermal engineering developments, hybrid nanofluids are used as fluid mediums in the fluid field. A hexagonal-shaped heat exchanger is taken with two circular surfaces along the middle part. The upright circular surface acts as a homogeneous heat source, while the lower circular surface functions as a heat sink. The remaining portions of the adjacent walls are thermally insulated. The copper (Cu) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are suspended into water to make a hybrid nanofluid. For solving the corresponding governing equations, the weighted-residual finite element method is applied. To explain the major outcomes, isotherms, streamlines, and many others 2D and 3D contour plots are involved graphically with a physical explanation for different magnitudes of significant parameters: Rayleigh number 103≤Ra≤106, Hartmann number 0≤Ha≤100, and nanoparticle volume fraction 0≤ϕ≤0.06. The novelty of this work is to apply response surface methodology on the natural convective hybrid nanofluid model, to visualize 2D and 3D effects, and to study the sensitivity of independent parameters on response function. Due to the outstanding thermal properties of the hybrid nanofluid, the addition of Cu and TiO2 nanoparticles into H2O develops the heat transfer rate to 35.85% rather than base fluid. Moreover, a larger magnitude of Ra and the accumulation of mixture nanoparticles result in the thermal actuation of a hybrid nanofluid. With greater magnetic impact, an opposite response is exhibited.