Received: 11 August 2020 | Accepted: 3 September 2020

DOI: 10.1002/htj.21946

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Heat transfer enhancement in a cubical cavity

filled with a hybrid nanofluid

Ahlam Ghennai | Rachid Bessaїh

LEAP Laboratory, Department of

Mechanical Engineering, University of
Mentouri Brothers‐Constantine 1,
Constantine, Algeria
Correspondence
Ahlam Ghennai, LEAP Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Mentouri
Brothers‐ Constantine 1, Route de Ain El
Bey, 25000 Constantine, Algeria.
Email: ahlem.ghennai25@gmail.com
Abstract
Mixed convection heat transfer in a cubical cavity
with an isothermally heated blockage inside filled
with a hybrid nanofluid (HBNF) is numerically stu-
died. The natural convection is created by the tem-
perature difference between the hot block and the
cold lateral walls, while the forced convection is
generated by moving the upper wall. The influence of
some variables, like the aspect ratio (0.1 ≤ r ≤ 0.5),
Richardson number (0 ≤ Ri≤ 20), Reynolds number
(50 ≤ Re ≤ 200), volume concentration of nano-
particles (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.06), and the concentration ratio
(2:8, 5:5, and 8:2) on the flow field and heat transfer is
analyzed. A comparison between hybrid and mono
nanofluids (NFs) is realized to investigate the energy
transport enhancement. Results show that the in-
crease of each parameter causes an increase of aver-
age Nusselt number Nuavg and improves the heat
transfer; besides the use of HBNF gives better Nuavg
values. Three correlations of the effect of r, ϕ, Ri, and
Re on Nuavg are determined for both hybrid and
mono NFs.

KEYWORDS
cubical cavity, heat transfer, hybrid nanofluid, mixed convection

1 | INTRODUCTION

Research investigators are widely searching to find new methods to reply the industry demands
in the field of developed thermal sciences. Using heat transfer fluids with superior thermal
Heat Transfer. 2020;1–21. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC | 1
2 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

properties could demonstrate historical progress for heat transfer enhancement.1 Nanofluids
(NFs) are appearing as promising thermofluids for heat transfer application2 in many empirical
fields and diverse industrial domains, such as solar collectors, ventilation of buildings, passive
cooling, electronic components cooling, nuclear reactors, food industries, heat exchangers, and
so forth. Researchers have employed (NF) in different geometries for natural convection,3‐13
mixed convection,14‐20 and forced convection applications.21‐25
Recently, the impregnation of two or more nanoparticles (NPs) into the base heat transfer
fluids to further enhance the heat transfer characteristics is the topic of numerous heat transfer
studies. Alipanah et al26 analyzed natural convection heat transfer and entropy generation in a
square cavity using Al2O3/water nanofluid and compared the results with pure water. They
reported that the heat transfer is more enhanced for the NF cases at any Rayleigh number.
Natural convection in a parabolic enclosure with an internal vertical heat source filled with Cu/
water nanofluid study was carried out by Hussain and Mustafa.27 As a result, they found that
heat transfer increases with Rayleigh number and NP volume fraction.
A new type of nanofluid is called hybrid nanofluid (HBNF) or nanocomposite fluid. Several
theoretical research works2,28‐31 were conducted to study the methods of preparation, char-
acteristics, properties, and stability of HBNF, as well as the factors that affect their performance
and some difficult problems that need to be solved for future research works. Çolak et al32
proposed a correlation to estimate the specific heat of Cu‐Al2O3/water HBNF based on an
experimental study using an artificial neural network model, thermal conductivity, and visc-
osity investigation were reported by Kumar and Sahoo33 to analyze Al2O3‐Cu HBNF using
various base fluids and different NP shape. Minea and El‐Maghlany34 attempted to examine
certain HBNF solar applications and their possible use in solar energy systems. They clearly
demonstrated an improvement in Nu for all HBNF considered. The highest increase in mean
Nu was observed for the Cu‐MgO hybrid at a volume concentration of 2%. Jana et al35 applied
conductive nanomaterials such as CNT, Cu, and Au and their hybrids like CNT‐Cu or CNT‐Au
to improve thermal conductivity fluids. Simple NF results, especially Cu‐water showed the best
improvement. Taybi and Chamkha36,37 compared numerically natural convection enhancement
horizontal in a cylindrical annulus with different shapes and conditions between Al2O3/water
monotype and Cu‐Al2O3/water HBNF. It was explained that using more than just one nano-
particle type gives a better thermal and dynamic performance. Mehryan et al38 performed a
study about natural convection of Cu‐Al2O3 water based in a heated porous cavity and detected
a drop of heat transfer. This drop is much more considered when there is use of hybrid
nanomaterials. Two dimensional (2D) simulations to investigate laminar natural convection
within a square cavity with diagonal heaters and a central adiabatic obstacle filled with
nanodiamond‐cobalt oxide/water were performed by Kalidasan and Kanna.39 It was reported
that the heat transfer intensity is high in the right wall than the left wall. Labib et al40 examined
a numerical study using a two‐phase mixture approach about the impact of HBNF and their
based fluids used in forced convection. They found that integration of CNT and Al2O3 in water
tends to ameliorate the heat transfer performance. Ashorynejad41 considered natural convec-
tion of Cu‐Al2O3/water within open wavy cavity and subjected to a uniform magnetic field by
adopting the lattice Boltzmann method scheme. The findings summarized that Nu number
reduces when Hartmann number increases; however, it rises with Ra and ϕ. Another research
was reviewed by Sundar et al42 about the amelioration of heat transfer of MWCNT‐Fe3O4/
water. Results showed a maximum increase of Nu at Re = 22 000 compared to the base fluid.
Taybi and Chamkha43 conducted a numerical investigation about natural convection flow of
HBNF in a square cavity. Results demonstrate that the conductivity ratio of the solid block
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 3

affects the dynamic and thermal fields. Shulepova et al44 reported a study about mixed con-
vection of Al2O3 nanoliquid in a square‐shaped enclosure. It was demonstrated that Ra and Re
numbers promote the energy transport while ϕ intensifies the energy transport for all men-
tioned Re at Ri = 104 and Ri = 105, but only for Re > 150 at Ri = 106.
To the best of our knowledge, the present work has never been performed. The objective of this
paper is to analyze the numerical simulation of mixed convection heat transfer in a cubical cavity
containing a hot blockage and compare between CNT‐Cu/water HBNF and CNT/water NF with
different concentration ratios (2:8), (5:5), and (8:2) for different aspect ratios (r = 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25,
and 0.5), Ri = 0.1, 1, 10, and 20, Re = 50, 100, 150, and 200, and ϕ = 0, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06.

2 | GEOMETRY DE S CRI PTI O N AN D M AT H EM AT I C AL

MODEL

2.1 | Problem description

The geometry studied is a 3D cavity with a central block filled with CNT‐Cu/water HBNF (see
Figure 1). The cavity length L is kept constant where the block length l is varied with the aspect
ratio r = l/L as (r = 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, and 0.5). The numerical simulation is considered as a 3D
mixed convection and steady state. The base fluid (water) and the NP (CNT and Cu) are in
thermal equilibrium, their thermophysical properties, which are given in Table 1, are con-
sidered constant, except for density, which is varied depending on the Boussinesq model.

2.2 | Governing equations

The conservation equations of mass (1), momentum (2), and energy (3) for this problem are,
respectively, as follows:

∂ (ρnf uj )
= 0, (1)
∂x j

FIGURE 1 Studied geometry [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

4 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

TABLE 1 Characteristics of water, Cu, and CNT at 300 K43

Property Unit Water Cu CNT

ρ kg/m 3
997.1 8933 2600
Cp J/kg·K 4179 385 425
β × 106 K−1 210 16.7 1.6
k W/m·K 0.613 400 6600
μ × 10 6
Kg/m·s 855 … …

∂ (ρnf ui uj ) ∂p ∂ ⎛ ∂u ⎞ (2)
=− + ⎜μnf i ⎟ + gi (ρnf − ρ0 ),
∂x j ∂x i ∂x j ⎝ ∂x j ⎠
∂ (ρnf Cpnf u T )
j ∂ ⎛ ∂T ⎞ (3)
= ⎜Γ ⎟.
∂x j ∂x j ⎝ ∂x j ⎠

These equations are discretized with the finite volume method and the second‐order upwind
scheme. The SIMPLE algorithm is used to solve the pressure‐based equation which is derived
from the continuity and momentum equations in which the fields of velocity and pressure are
coupled. The pressure, velocity components, and energy are solved sequentially and in an
iterative way. Computing convergence is obtained when the normalized residual for each
equation is reduced to less than 10−4.

2.3 | Nanofluid properties

The density,45 specific heat,46 thermal conductivity,47 viscosity,48 and thermal expansion
coefficient are calculated using Equations (4) to (8).
Where φ is the overall volume concentration, and bf and np refer to the base fluid and NP,
respectively

ρnf = (1 − φ) ρ bf + ∑np φnp ρnp , (4)

ρnf Cpnf = (1 − φ)ρ bf Cp bf + ∑np φnp ρnp Cpnp, (5)

k nf
=
( )∑ φ k
1
φ np np np
+ 2kbf + 2∑np φnp k np − 2φk np
, (6)
kf
( )∑ φ k
1
φ np np np
+ 2kbf − ∑np φnp k np + φk np

μ nf = (1 + 2.5φ + 6.2φ2) μbf , (7)

ρnf βnf = (1 − φ) ρ bf β bf + ∑np φnp ρnp βnp. (8)

The local and average Nusselt numbers are given by

GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 5

∂T
Nul =
∂x i
and Nuavg = ∫∫Nu dxj dxk.
l
(9)

The dimensionless variables used can be expressed as

x y z u T − Tc (10)
X= ,Y = ,Z = ,V = ,θ = .
L L L u0 Th − Tc

2.4 | Boundary conditions

In this study, it is considered that the left and the right walls of the cavity are the cold walls
while the other walls are supposed to be perfectly adiabatic. The cavity is heated by the hot
temperature imposed on the block walls. All the walls are stationary except for the top one
which moves, giving a variant Reynolds number.
∂θ
Top wall: Y = 1, 0 ≤ X ≤ 1, 0 ≤ Z ≤ 1 → V = 1, ∂Y = 0.
Cold walls: X = 0, X = 1, 0 ≤ Y ≤ 1, 0 ≤ Z ≤ 1 → V = 0, θ = 0.
∂θ
Bottom wall: Y = 0, 0 ≤ X ≤ 1, 0 ≤ Z ≤ 1 → V = 0, ∂Y = 0.
∂θ
Adiabatic walls: Z = 0, Z = 1, 0 ≤ X ≤ 1, 0 ≤ Y ≤ 1 → V = 0, ∂Z = 0.
1 r 1 r
Block walls: X = 2 +̄ 2 , Y = 2 +̄ 2 , 0 ≤ Z ≤ 1 → θ = 1, V = 0.

2.5 | Grid size independency test

Moreover, an investigation on the grid resolution has also been carried out by using five
different grids (60 × 60 × 60, 70 × 70 × 70, 80 × 80 × 80, 90 × 90 × 90, and 100 × 100 × 100
nodes) with fine resolution near the block walls for ϕ = 0, Ri = 10 and r = 0.1. The variation
seen in results is very small and almost negligible, as shown in Figure 2 and Table 2.
However, to minimize discretization errors in numerical simulation, 80 × 80 × 80 nodes
were used.

F I G U R E 2 Grid independence study [Color

figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
6 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

TABLE 2 Effect of grid size on Nuavg

Mesh 603 nodes 703 nodes 803 Nodes 903 nodes 1003 nodes

Nuavg 2.801 2.786 2.775 2.765 2.756

2.6 | Validation

The computational procedure is validated against the numerical results of Islam et al.49 The
comparison of the dimensionless V velocity profile along the horizontal midplane is shown in
Figure 3. And with Al‐Rashed et al50 and Jahanshahi et al51 for the dimensionless temperature θ
on the axial midline (Figure 4). A very good agreement between the results is obtained.

3 | R E S U L T S AN D D I S C U S S I O N

To study laminar mixed convection in a cubical cavity and compare between CNT‐Cu/water
HBNF and CNT/water mono nanofluid, 3D numerical simulations were performed for different
aspect ratios (0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, and 0.5), Richardson number (0.1, 1, 10, and 20), volumetric
concentration (0, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06), Reynolds number (50, 100, 150, and 200), and variant
concentration ratios (2:8), (5:5), and (8:2), which means adding to base fluid 20% CNT + 80%
Cu, 50% CNT + 50% Cu, and 80% CNT + 20% Cu.

3.1 | Flow field

Different 3D stream traces for different aspect ratios for ϕ = 0 and ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) are presented in
Figure 5 at Ri = 0.1. The low Richardson number plot almost identical traces for variant NP
concentration, where the buoyancy force is weak, the flow is nearly uniform with the formation
of recirculation area above the hot block due to hydrodynamic stagnation caused by the block
and the flow generated by the upper wall. This area becomes thinner and larger and more

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
V

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6 present results F I G U R E 3 Comparison between our

Islam et al.
-0.8
numerical results and those of Islam et al49 for
the dimensionless velocity profiles along the
-1
-0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 horizontal midplane [Color figure can be
X
viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 7

F I G U R E 4 Comparison between our

predictions and those of Al‐Rashed et al50 and
Jahanshahi et al51 for the dimensionless
temperature profiles [Color figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]

F I G U R E 5 Streamtraces for Ri = 0.1 and different ϕ and r [Color figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
8 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

F I G U R E 6 Streamtraces for Ri = 10 and different ϕ and r [Color figure can be viewed at

wileyonlinelibrary.com]

intense as the aspect ratio increases from 0.1 to 0.5. When Ri = 10 (Figure 6), the buoyancy force
is amplified therefore the influence of the heat emitted by the block becomes more important
and another recirculation area appears next to the left side of the block due to the domination of
natural convection.
These two vortices are rotating in opposite directions. The upper which is formed by the
flow generated by the moving wall is a clockwise vortex, the other one, which is formed by the
thermal energy emitted from the block is a counter‐clockwise vortex, there sizes increase with
the expand of the block size which increases the energy emitted and restrict the flow, the traces
are identical for different NP concentration, therefore this stream traces does not show the real
effect of ϕ. Streamlines in z/2 plan for ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) and different Re and r presented in Figure 7
at Gr = 105 show that the size of the upper vortex due to moving wall expand with Re from the
left side as a result of the increase of the wall velocity over the second vortex that shrinks due to
the decrease of Ri number (Re increase and Gr constant). As Reynolds number increases, the
flow gets to be more generated by a moving wall, that's why it is observed that streamlines from
the bottom side follow the path directly to the top wall. Therefore, the vortexes become smaller
from the bottom side of the cavity, while the block size enlarges the recirculation areas change
to be thinner and more intense.
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 9

F I G U R E 7 Streamlines for ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) and different Re and r at z/2 plan [Color figure can be viewed
at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

The hydrodynamic behavior in the cavity is also presented in Figure 8 as dimensionless

velocity profiles for variant Ri number and constant Re number of 100, these plots compare
between velocity profiles at different blockage ratios and for ϕ = 0 and ϕ = 0.06, as can be seen
from the figure the velocity increase with Ri especially from the left side where the flow goes
downward forming a recirculation area. Islam et al49 found that the forming of strong re-
circulation bubbles is evident at low block sizes and high Richardson number. The presented
results show that the flow accelerates when the NPs concentration intensifies and it decelerates
when the blockage surface rises as a result of the shrinking of the flow area and the hydro-
dynamic stagnation.

3.2 | Heat transfer

Isosurfaces of temperature for several block dimensions r = 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 and ϕ = 0.06
(5:5) at Ri = 0.1and 1 are presented in Figure 9 and at Ri = 10 and 20 in Figure 10. When the
aspect ratio is small r = 0.1, small‐sized hot stratifications are formed in the enclosure;
hence low‐temperature distribution. Al‐Rashed et al50 also reported that at low block sizes,
the thermal energy provided by the isothermal block is extremely low. These hot stratifi-
cations become larger and more spread in the cavity as the aspect ratio enlarges. The
10 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

F I G U R E 8 Dimensionless velocity profiles for ϕ = 0 and ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) and different Ri and r along
X = x/L, at Y = 0.875 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

increase of Ri number also affects the stratified layers, it enhances their shape and ex-
pansion in the cavity, they move upward and turn into horizontal layers, and the hot ones
reach the upper surface more with the rise of r, which determine a better temperature
distribution.
Isotherms illustrated in Figure 11 on the x‐y midplan for diverse Ri numbers and aspect
ratios of r = 0.2 and r = 0.5 compare the heat propagation between volumetric concentra-
tions ϕ = 0 black lines and ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) colored lines. As the natural convection effects
increase over the forced convection due to the elevation of Ri, the isothermal lines in the
upper area become more and more spread over the cavity and they change their direction
from vertical to horizontal lines in the bottom area. When the block size expands for a
constant Ri number, the isotherms tented away in a vertical direction because of the
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 11

F I G U R E 9 Isosurfaces of temperature for ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) and different Ri and r [Color figure can be
viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

shrinking of the circulating area and the higher thermal energy emitted by the hot block as a
result of the enlargement of the hot surface. the comparison between different isotherms for
different Richardson number shows that when Ri varies from 0.1 to 1 (domination of the
transiting wall effects), the isotherms beside the top wall are more influenced by the moving
wall velocity, where it is noticeable that they are more dragged to the left side, but as Ri
number increases the influence of the forced convection decreases and the control of nat-
ural convection appears by the concentration of the isotherms around the heat source. The
impact of NP is nearly negligible at a low Richardson number, their influence is more
considered when Ri rises.
Dimensionless temperature profiles are plotted in Figure 12 for different parameters to
investigate the heat transfer behavior and evaluate temperature distribution along an axial line
in z/2 plan. It is observed that the addition of NP promotes the temperature in the cavity,
especially in the middle though the profiles are identical in both left and right sides. This
enhancement is more clear at the greatest Ri number values. The blockage expands also elevate
the temperature due to the enlargement of the heating area.
Figure 13 plots the average Nusselt number Nuavg for different parameters which examines
the heat transfer in the cavity and compares it between CNT‐Cu/water HBNF with (5:5)
12 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

F I G U R E 1 0 Isosurfaces of temperature for ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) and different Ri and r [Color figure can be
viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

concentration ratio and CNT/water simple nanofluid, as working fluid at a constant velocity of
Re = 100. The plots show that Nuavg increases with the increase of all the mentioned variables
(Ri, ϕ, and r) for both studied cases. Similar findings were reviewed by Al‐Rashed et al12 about
the enhancement of heat transfer with the rise of Ri. Though the results illustrated reveal that
the presence of two different kinds of NP immerged in the fluid enhance the heat transfer better
than just one kind. This enhancement presented as the elevation of Nuavg is more developed
when the aspect ratio r, Richardson number Ri, and concentration ϕ increase. Another com-
parison between CNT‐Cu/water and CNT/water NFs for variant ϕ and Re at a constant tem-
perature of Gr = 105 was performed and presented in Figure 14. Results show the same
variation of Figure 13. The increase of Re also enhances the transfer by accelerating the fluid
movement and temperature distribution in the cavity.
The study of the NP concentration ratio for the HBNF at variant ϕ and r is demonstrated in
Figure 15. The plots indicate that the most elevated values of Nuavg were found for (8:2) ratio
80% carbon nanotubes and 20% copper, which means that the mean Nusselt number increases
as the CNT percentage increases, but comparing the previous findings in Figures 13 and 14,
where the percentage of CNT is 100% (simple nanofluid case) it is observed that Nuavg reduces.
This result proves that the addition of two or more kinds of NPs in the circulating fluid
enhances the heat transfer better than only one kind.
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 13

F I G U R E 1 1 Isotherms for different Ri and r at z/2 plan, ϕ = 0 black and ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) colored [Color
figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
14 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

F I G U R E 1 2 Dimensionless temperature profiles for ϕ = 0 and ϕ = 0.06 (5:5) and different Ri and r
along X = x/L, at Y = 0.875 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Three correlations are determined to predict the impact of r, ϕ, Ri, and Re on the values of
Nuavg for both CNT‐Cu hybrid and CNT simple NFs validate for 0.1 ≤ r ≤ 0.5, 0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.06,
0.1 ≤ Ri≤ 20, and 50 ≤ Re ≤ 200 are presented in Figure 16. A very good agreement between the
calculated and correlated results is obtained:

• Hybrid nanofluid

Nuavg = 4.177Ri0.144r 0.446 (1 + φ)1.834 ,

Nuavg = 2.214Re 0.0568 (1 + φ)1.394.

GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 15

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

F I G U R E 1 3 Comparison of the variation of Nuavg vs volumetric for different Ri and r between CNT‐Cu/
water hybrid nanofluid and CNT/water mono nanofluid [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

F I G U R E 1 4 Comparison of the variation of

Nuavg vs volumetric for different Re at r = 0.2
between CNT‐Cu/water hybrid nanofluid and
CNT/water mono nanofluid [Color figure can be
viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
16 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

F I G U R E 1 5 Variation of Nuavg vs volumetric

concentration for different aspect ratios and
concentration ratios [Color figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]

(A) (B)

(C)

F I G U R E 1 6 Comparison between the numerical results and correlation for Nuavg [Color figure can
be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 17

• Simple nanofluid

Nuavg = 4.137Ri0.143r 0.439 (1 + φ)1.668.

4 | CONCLUSION

Three‐dimensional analysis of mixed convection heat transfer has been conducted in a cubical
cavity filled with CNT‐Cu water‐based HBNF and compared with CNT/water nanofluid to
study different effects of variant parameters (aspect ratio, Richardson number, Reynolds
number, and volume concentration). From the obtained results, the following conclusions can
be made.

• Formation of two vortices that rotate in opposite directions in the cavity due to the flow
generated by the moving wall and the thermal energy emitted from the hot block.
• At low Ri (Ri = 0.1‐1), only one vortex is created, as Ri number increases the second vortex is
formed and its size increases with the increase of Ri.
• As the aspect ratio increases, more temperature distribution is observed.
• The heat transfer enhances when the block size expands.
• The influence of the forced convection decreases and the domination of the natural con-
vection appears as Ri number increases.
• Reynolds number also enhances heat transfer and increases Nuavg values.
• Nuavg increases with the expansion of the block size, with the rise of Ri and Re and the
increasing of ϕ for all the concentration ratios.
• Concentration ratio effects give the greatest values for the (8:2) ratio where CNT NPs dom-
inate over Cu NPs, but the use of only CNT NPs reduces the heat transfer and Nuavg.
• Determination of three correlations to predict the heat transfer for both hybrid and sim-
ple NFs.

NOMEN C LAT U RE
Cp Specific heat, J kg−1 s−1
g Gravity acceleration, m s−2
Gr Grashof number
k Thermal conductivity, W m−1 K−1
l Block length, m
L Cavity length, m
Nu Nusselt number
P Pressure, N m−2
r Aspect ratio r = l/L
Ri Richardson number
Re Reynolds number
T Temperature, K
u Velocity, m s−1
uo wall velocity, m s−1
V Dimensionless velocity
18 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

x, y, z Cartesian coordinates, m
X, Y, Z Dimensionless Cartesian coordinates

GREEK S YMBOLS
β Thermal expansion coefficient, K−1
θ Dimensionless temperature
ρ Density, kg m−3
μ Dynamic viscosity, kg m−1 s−1
φ Volume concentration
Δ Difference
Γ Thermal diffusivity coefficient

S U BS C RI P T S
avg Average
bf Base fluid
c Cold
h Hot
i, j Indices
l Local
nf Nanofluid
np Nanoparticle

ORCID
Ahlam Ghennai http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5176-0235
Rachid Bessaїh http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2325-1502

REFERENCES
1. Izadi M, Behzadmehr A, Shahmardan MM. Effects of inclination angle on mixed convection heat transfer of
a nanofluid in a square cavity. Int J Comput Methods Eng Sci Mech. 2015;16:11‐21. https://doi.org/10.1080/
15502287.2014.976674
2. Kumar DD, Arasu AV. A comprehensive review of preparation characterization properties and stability
of hybrid nanofluids. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2017;81:1669‐1689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.
05.257
3. Das MK, Ohal PS. Natural convection heat transfer augmentation in a partially heated and partially cooled
square cavity utilizing nanofluids. Int J Numer Methods Heat Fluid Flow. 2009;19:411‐431. https://doi.org/10.
1108/09615530910938353
4. Aminossadati SM, Ghasemi B. Conjugate natural convection in an inclined nanofluid‐filled enclosure. Int
J Numer Methods Heat Fluid Flow. 2012;22:403‐423. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615531211215729
5. Bourantas GC, Skouras ED, Loukopoulos VC, Nikiforidis GC. Natural convection of nanofluids flow with
“Nanofluid‐oriented” models of thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity in the presence of heat source.
Int J Numer Methods Heat Fluid Flow. 2013;23:248‐274. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615531311293452
6. Saravanan S, Kumar ARV. Natural convection in square cavity with heat generating baffles. Appl Math
Comput. 2014;244:1‐9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amc.2014.06.092
7. Boualit A, Zeraibi N, Chergui T, Lebbi M, Boutina L, Laouar S. Natural convection investigation in square
cavity filled with nanofluid using dispersion model. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2017;42:8611‐8623. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.07.132
8. Rahimi A, Kasaeipoor A, Malekshah EH, Kolsi L. Experimental and numerical study on heat transfer
performance of three‐dimensional natural convection in an enclosure filled with DWCNTs‐water nanofluid.
Powder Technol. 2017;322:340‐352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2017.09.008
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 19

9. Bara E, El‐hamdani S, Bendou A, Limam K. Parametric study on natural convection of nanofluids in a

heated chamber. Energy Proc. 2017;139:424‐429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.11.232
10. Sabour M, Ghalambaz M, Chamkha A. Natural convection of nanofluids in a cavity: criteria for enhance-
ment of nanofluids. Int J Numer Methods Heat Fluid Flow. 2017;27:1504‐1534. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-
12-2015-0516
11. Al‐Rashed AAAA, Kolsi L, Kalidasan K, Malekshah EH, Borjini MN, Kanna PR. Second law analysis of
natural convection in a CNT‐water nanofluid filled inclined 3D cavity with incorporated Ahmed body. Int
J Mech Sci. 2017;130:399‐415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2017.06.028
12. Al‐Rashed AAAA, Kalidasan K, Kolsi L, et al. Three‐dimensional investigation of the effects of external
magnetic field inclination on laminar natural convection heat transfer in CNT‐water nanofluid filled cavity.
J Mol Liq. 2018;252:454‐468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.01.006
13. Emami RY, Siavashi M, Moghaddam GS. The effect of inclination angle and hot wall configuration on Cu‐
water nanofluid natural convection inside a porous square cavity. Adv Powder Technol. 2018;29:519‐536.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2017.10.027
14. Nayak RK, Bhattacharyya S, Pop I. Effects of NP dispersion on the mixed convection of a nanofluid in a
skewed enclosure. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2018;125:908‐919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.
2018.04.088
15. Garoosi F, Garoosi S, Hooman K. Numerical simulation of natural convection and mixed convection of the
nanofluid in a square cavity using Buongiorno model. Powder Technol. 2014;268:279‐292. https://doi.org/10.
1016/j.powtec.2014.08.006
16. Akhtari M, Haghshenasfard M, Talaie MR. Numerical and experimental investigation of heat transfer of α‐
Al2O3/water nanofluid in double pipe and shell and tube heat exchanger. Numer Heat Transfer, Part A. 2013;
63:941‐958. https://doi.org/10.1080/10407782.2013.772855
17. Bahiraei M, Gorjaei AR, Shahidian A. Investigating heat transfer and entropy generation for mixed con-
vection of CuO–water nanofluid in an inclined annulus. J Mol Liq. 2017;248:36‐47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
molliq.2017.10.025
18. Mehmood K, Hussain S, Sagheer M. Mixed convection in alumina‐water nanofluid filled lid‐driven square
cavity with an isothermally heated square blockage inside with magnetic field effect: introduction. Int J Heat
Mass Transfer. 2017;109:397‐409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.117
19. Xu H, Cui J. Mixed convection flow in a channel with slip in a porous medium saturated with a nanofluid
containing both NP and microorganisms. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2018;125:1043‐1053. https://doi.org/10.
1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2018.04.124
20. Selimefendigil F, Öztop HF. Mixed convection of nanofluids in a three dimensional cavity with two adia-
batic inner rotating cylinders. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2018;117:331‐343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ijheatmasstransfer.2017.09.116
21. Sheikholeslami M, Shehzad SA, Abbasi FM, Li Z. Nanofluid flow and forced convection heat transfer due to
Lorentz forces in a porous lid driven cubic enclosure with hot obstacle. Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng.
2018;338:491‐505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2018.04.020
22. Gorjaei AR, Soltani M, Bahiraei M, Kashkooli MF. CFD simulation of nanofluid forced convection inside a
three‐dimensional annulus by two‐phase mixture approach: heat transfer and entropy generation analyses.
Int J Mech Sci. 2018:146‐147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2018.08.002
23. Sheikholeslami M, Hayat T, Alsaedi A. Numerical simulation of nanofluid forced convection heat transfer
improvement in existence of magnetic field using Lattice Boltzmann method. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2017;
108:1870‐1883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.01.044
24. Mohebbi R, Rashidi MM, Izadi M, Sidik NAC, Xian HW. Forced convection of nanofluids in an extended
surfaces channel using lattice Boltzmann method. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2017;117:1291‐1303. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.10.063
25. Ho CJ, Chang CY, Yan WM, Amani P. A combined numerical and experimental study on the forced
convection of Al2O3‐water nanofluid in a circular tube. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2018;120:66‐75. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.12.031
26. Alipanah M, Ranjbar AA, Farnad E, Alipanah F. Entropy generation of natural convection heat transfer in a
square cavity using Al2O3–water nanofluid. Heat Transfer Asian Res. 2014;44:641‐656. https://doi.org/10.
1002/htj.21141
20 | GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH

27. Hussein AK, Mustafa AW. Natural convection in a parabolic enclosure with an internal vertical heat source
filled with Cu–water nanofluid. Heat Transfer Asian Res. 2017;00:1‐17. https://doi.org/10.1002/htj.21305
28. Hamzah MH, Sidik NAC, Ken TL, Mamat R, Najafi G. Factors affecting the performance of hybrid nano-
fluids: a comprehensive review. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2017;115:630‐646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ijheatmasstransfer.2017.07.021
29. Sidik NAC, Jamil MM, Japar WMAA, Adamu IM. A review on preparation methods, stabillity and appli-
cations of hybrid nanofluids. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2017;80:1112‐1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.
2017.05.221
30. Babu JAR, Kumar KK, Rao SS. State‐of‐art review on hybrid nanofluids. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2017;77:
551‐565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.040
31. Das PK. A review based on the effect and mechanism of thermal conductivity of normal nanofluids and
hybrid nanofluids. J Mol Liq. 2017;240:420‐446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2017.05.071
32. Çolak AB, Yıldız O, Bayrak M, Tezekici BS. Experimental study for predicting the specific heat of water
based CuAl2O3 hybrid nanofluid using artificial neural network and proposing new correlation. Int J Energy
Res. 2020;44:7198‐7215. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.5417
33. Kumar V, Sahoo RR. Viscosity and thermal conductivity comparative study for hybrid nanofluid in binary
base fluids. Heat Transfer Asian Res. 2019;48:1‐18. https://doi.org/10.1002/htj.21535
34. Minea AA, El‐Maghlany MW. Influence of hybrid nanofluids on the performance of parabolic trough
collectors in solar thermal systems: recent findings and numerical comparison. Renew Energy. 2018;120:
350‐364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.12.093
35. Jana S, Salehi‐Khojin A, Zhong WH. Enhancement of fluid thermal conductivity by the addition of single
and hybrid nano‐additives. Thermochim Acta. 2007;462:45‐55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2007.06.009
36. Tayebi T, Chamkha AJ. Natural convection enhancement in an eccentric horizontal cylindrical annulus
using hybrid nanofluids. Numer Heat Transfer, Part A. 2017;71:1159‐1173. https://doi.org/10.1080/10407782.
2017.1337990
37. Tayebi T, Chamkha AJ. Free convection enhancement in an annulus between horizontal confocal elliptical
cylinders using hybrid nanofluids. Numer Heat Transfer, Part A. 2016;70:1141‐1156. https://doi.org/10.1080/
10407782.2016.1230423
38. Mehryan SAM, Kashkooli FM, Ghalambaz M, Chamkha AJ. Free convection of hybrid nanofluid in a
differentially heated porous cavity. Adv Powder Technol. 2017;28:2295‐2305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.
2017.06.011.
39. Kalidasan K, Kanna PR. Natural convection on an open square cavity containing diagonally placed heaters
and adiabatic square block and filled with hybrid nanofluid of nanodiamond‐cobalt oxide/water. Int
Commun Heat Mass Transfer. 2017;81:64‐71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2016.12.005
40. Labib MN, Afrianto MJH, Chung H, Jeong H. Numerical investigation on effect of base fluids and hybrid
nanofluid in forced convective heat transfer. Int J Thermal. 2013;71:163‐171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ijthermalsci.2013.04.003
41. Ashorynejad HR, Shahriari A. MHD natural convection of hybrid nanofluid in an open wavy cavity. Results
Phys. 2018;9:440‐455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2018.02.045.
42. Sundar LS, Singh MK, Sousa ACM. Enhanced heat transfer and friction factor of MWCNT–Fe3O4/water
hybrid nanofluids. Int Commun Heat Mass Transfer. 2014;52:73‐83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
icheatmasstransfer.2014.01.012
43. Taybi T, Chamkha A. Entropy generation analysis during MHD natural convection flow of hybrid nanofluid
in a square cavity containing a corrugated conducting block. Int J Numer Methods Fluid Flow. 2019;30:
1115‐1136. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-04-2019-0350.
44. Shulepova EV, Sheremet MA, Oztop HF, Abu‐Hamdeh N. Mixed convection of Al2O3–H2O nanoliquid in a
square chamber with complicated fin. Int J Mech Sci. 2020;165:105132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.
2019.105192
45. Pak BC, Cho Y. Hydrodynamics and heat transfer study of dispersed fluids with submicron metallic oxide
particle. Exp Heat Transfer. 1998;11:151‐170. https://doi.org/10.1080/08916159808946559
46. Xuan Y, Roetzei W. Conceptions for heat transfer correlation of nanofluids. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2000;
43:3701‐3707. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0017-9310(99)00369-5
GHENNAI AND BESSAЇH | 21

47. Takabi B, Salehi S. Augmentation of the heat transfer performance of a sinusoidal corrugated enclosure by
employing hybrid nanofluid. Adv Mech Eng. 2014;6:147059. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/147059.
48. Batchelor GR. Brownian diffusion of particles with hydrodynamic interaction. J Fluid Mech. 1976;74:1‐29.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112076001663
49. Islam AW, Sharif MAR, Carlson ES. Mixed convection in a lid driven square cavity with an isothermal
heated square blockage inside. Int J Heat Mass Transfer. 2012;55:5244‐5255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ijheatmasstransfer.2012.05.032
50. Al‐Rashed AAAA, Kalidasan K, Kolsi L, et al. Mixed convection and entropy generation in a nanofluid filled
cubical open cavity with a central isothermal block. Int J Mech Sci. 2018:362‐375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ijmecsci.2017.11.033
51. Jahanshahi SF, Hosseinizadeh M, Alipanah M, Dehghani GR, Vakilinejad A. Numerical simulation of free
convection based on experimental measured conductivity in a square cavity using water/SiO2 nanofluid. Int
Commun Heat Mass Transfer. 2010;37:687‐694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2010.03.010

How to cite this article: Ghennai A, Bessaїh R. Heat transfer enhancement in a cubical
cavity filled with a hybrid nanofluid. Heat Transfer. 2020;1–21.
https://doi.org/10.1002/htj.21946