Received: 28 November 2020 | Revised: 16 February 2021
DOI: 10.1002/htj.22123
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Numerical simulation of natural convection
heat transfer from a heated square cylinder in
a square cavity filled with micropolar fluid
C. Sivarami Reddy1 | V. Ramachandra Prasad2
1
Department of Mathematics, Jawaharlal
Nehru Technological University
Anantapuramu, Anantapuramu,
Andhra Pradesh, India
2
Department of Mathematics, School of
Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of
Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Correspondence
V. Ramachandra Prasad, Department of
Mathematics, School of Advanced
Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology,
Vellore, 632014 Tamil Nadu, India.
Email: rcpmaths@gmail.com
Heat Transfer. 2021;1–19.
| Accepted: 19 February 2021
| K. Jayalakshmi1
Abstract
A numerical investigation has been performed to visualize
the magnetohydrodynamic natural convective heat trans-
fer from a heated square cylinder situated within a square
enclosure subjected to nonuniform temperature distribu-
tions on the left wall. The flow inside the enclosure is
unsteady, incompressible, and laminar and the working
fluid is micropolar fluid with constant Prandtl number
(Pr = 7). The governing equations of the flow problem are
the conservation of mass, energy, and linear momentum,
as well as the angular momentum equations. Governing
equations formulated in dimensionless velocity and pres-
sure form has been solved by Marker and Cell method
with second‐order accuracy finite difference scheme.
Comprehensive verification of the utilized numerical
method and mathematical model has shown a good
agreement with numerical data of other authors. The re-
sults are discussed in terms of the distribution of stream-
lines and isotherms and surface‐averaged Nusselt number,
for combinations of Rayleigh number, Ra (103–106), Vor-
tex viscosity parameter, K (0–5), and Ha parameter (0–50).
It has been shown that an increase in the vortex viscosity
parameter leads to attenuation of the convective flow and
heat transfer inside the cavity.
KEYWORDS
finite difference method, hot obstacle, MHD, micropolar fluid,
variable heat
wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC | 1
2 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

1 | INTRODUCTION

The buoyancy‐driven flow in cavities or enclosures has long been studied and re-
searchers give much attention to these problems because it has a wide range of applications in
engineering, which includes, design of solar collectors, cooling of electrodevices, nuclear re-
actors, and air conditioning. Natural convection occurs only due to the buoyancy forces that
arise due to the difference of density in the fluid, which results from the variation of the
temperature in fluid.
The major mode of the heat distribution is natural convection. Basak et al.1 conducted a
penalty finite element numerical examination of buoyancy flow in a square domain with the
effect of the thermal boundary conditions. They are examined natural convection within a
cavity with wide range of governing parameters, such as Rayleigh number, Ra, 103–105 and
Prandtl number, Pr = 0.7–10, under the uniformly and nonuniformly heated bottom wall,
cooled side walls, and adiabatic top wall. Natural convective laminar flow in a square cavity
under the horizontal fin is examined by Ahmed et al.2 They are conducted numerical in-
vestigation of dissimilar values of Ra, length of the fin and fine size with working fluid Pr = 0.71
and also observed that negligible effect is registered with increasing the fin thickness. Gibanov
and Sheremet3 examined the natural convective flow in a cubical crater with the effect of
various heat source configurations. They conducted an examination of natural convection with
five different shapes of local heat source. Sheikholeslami et al.4 performed magnetohy-
drodynamic (MHD)‐forced convective flow in a lid‐driven porous cavity in the presence of hot
obstacle with elliptic shape and using nanofluid. The convective heat distribution in a cubical
permeable enclosure in the existence of hot obstacle with spherical shape has been reported by
Sheikholeslami et al.5 They considered water‐based nanofluid (Al2O3–H2O) and illustrated the
hydrothermal treatment of nanofluid with the influence of various values of governing
parameters.
Convective heat transport of non‐Newtonian micropolar fluids has several applications in
industry and engineering fields which includes heat exchange devices, reactor designs, crystal
growth, etc. using Alternate direct implicit method Saleem et al.6 conducted heat transfer analysis
in a cavity filled with micropolar fluid. The numerical computation of mixed convection (i.e.,
Lid‐driven enclosure) flow of non‐Newtonian fluid is conducted by Chamkha et al.7 They studied
forced convection in an enclosure with various Micro‐Gyration boundary circumstances and time
period. Sheikholeslami et al.8 reported a homotopy perturbation method, the analysis of heat
distribution in a porous channel of micropolar fluid. They examined heat exchange mechanism
characteristics with the effect of chemical reaction. Miroshnichenko et al.9 investigated the local
heat source's influence on micropolar non‐Newtonian fluid in a trapezoidal cavity. They illu-
strated the impact of fluidic and thermal parameters on stream patterns, vorticity profiles, and
isotherms. Several studies reveal the significance of non‐Newtonian (micropolar fluid) in a
various enclosure and also noticed.10‐20 Selimefendigil et al.21 examined the fluid flow and heat
transfer in a vertical lid‐driven CuO–water nanofluid‐filled square cavity with a flexible fin
attached to its upper wall under the influence of an inclined magnetic field. They showed that the
average heat transfer enhances as Young's modulus of the flexible fin decreases and the average
Nusselt number increases by 13.24% for Young's modulus of 250 compared with configuration for
the cavity having Young's modulus of 5000. Selimefendigil et al.22 performed the role of magnetic
field and surface corrugation on the natural convective transfer characteristics in a three‐
dimensional (3D), CuO–water nanofluid‐filled trapezoidal cavity with finite element method.
They observed that when corrugation height and number of corrugation waves enhance, local
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 3

and average heat transfer reduce. Selimefendigil and Oztop23 conducted numerical investigation
on convective heat transfer of carbon nanotube (CNT)‐water nanofluid in a 3D cubical enclosure
having an inner rotating adiabatic circular cylinder. Selimefendigil et al.24 studied mixed con-
vection of an oscillating lid‐driven cavity filled with nanofluid under the influence of an inclined
uniform magnetic field. They are observed Maximum enhancement of averaged heat transfer in
obsence of Ha and also observed the reduction of the convection within the cavity due to the
Lorentz forces caused by magnetic field are attained for magnetic inclination angles of γ = 90 and
60◦. Selimefendigil and Oztop25 examined the effects of an inner stationary cylinder having an
elastic rod‐like extension on the mixed convection of CNT‐water nanofluid in a 3D vented cavity
with finite element method. They are found the average Nusselt number is obtained in poly-
nomial in the presence of obstacles. Transient, laminar flow and natural convection of a
micropolar‐nanofluid (Al2O3/water) in the presence of a magnetic field have been addressed by
Bourantas et al.26 The authors in Reference [27] studied the laminar and natural convective flow
of a micropolar nanofluid in the presence of a magnetic field in a square porous enclosure.
Authors in Reference [28] examined mixed convection through an isosceles triangular cavity
enclosing micropolar nanofluid when a uniform magnetic field is applied along the x‐axis.
Authors in Reference [29] investigated presents computational results for mixed convective
heat flow through porous medium within two entrapped trapezoidal cavities filled
with kerosene–cobalt ferrofluid placed under the influence of magnetic field. Authors in
Reference [30] explored numerical simulations for energy flow by mixed convection under the
impact of MHD through ferrofluid saturating porous media contained in a trapezoidal enclosure
having triangular notched heater at the bottom wall when the container's top boundary is in
motion with constant speed. Authors in Reference [31] presents the numerical investigation of
heat transfer by free convection through an enclosure of two trapezoidal cavities full of
water–copper nanofluid saturated porous medium when horizontal upper and lower sides are
provided uniform heat, inclined boundaries are assumed cold and central horizontal wall is
considered insulated perfectly. Javed et al.32 analyzed the numerical results for heat transfer
through mixed convection in an incompressible steady lid‐driven fluid flow inside a trapezoidal
cavity in the presence of uniform magnetic field. They noticed that the effects of moving lid
become negligible for higher value of Ra (i.e., Ra = 105, 106, etc.), whereas increasing Rayleigh
number results in stronger stream line circulation and convection dominant effects inside the
enclosure. Javed et al.33 studied the numerical results for free convection through square en-
closure enclosing ferrofluid saturated porous medium when uniform magnetic field is applied
upon the flow along x‐axis. Heat is provided through bottom wall and a square blockage is placed
near left or right bottom corner of enclosure as a heat source. Javid et al.34 carried out for fluid
flow and heat transfer through natural convection in an isosceles triangular cavity under the
effects of uniform magnetic field.
Most of the literatures related to natural convection phenomena inside an enclosure pre-
sents a different aspects like a source of heat, the essence of convection phenomena such as
conjugate effect, the orientation of enclosure, and thermal boundary conditions. In addition to
these, the geometrical configuration is also one of the important factors influencing the con-
vection mechanism. Most of these studies in this context have considered square enclosure for
investigations since it involves complex flow pattern arising due to boundary layer, which
bounds the inviscid core because of four walls of the enclosure. The interaction of confined core
and surrounding boundary layer makes additional complexity, especially at higher values of
Rayleigh number (Ra). In addition to this, the presence of embedded objects further affects
strongly the flow field and also the nature of heat transfer. Moreover, nonuniform heating on
4 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

the periphery of the enclosure further complicates the nature of convection mechanism inside
the cavity. This makes the convection mechanism apparently more complex for simple geo-
metric configuration like enclosure appealing both from applied and fundamental perspective.
Since such conditions do occur in most of the industrial applications, an in‐depth analysis of
nonuniformity in temperature distribution, applied on the surfaces of an enclosure is im-
portant, which would further enhance the understanding of the transport of fluid flow and heat
transfer in buoyancy‐driven convection problem. Therefore, in this article focused on natural
convection of electrically conducting microrotational fluid in a square enclosure with hot
square cylindrical obstacle. The working fluid is considered as micropolar fluid. Finite differ-
ence scheme is utilized to employ the coupled nonlinear fluid and heat equations. The roles of
Rayleigh number, Hartmann number, and Prandtl number on hydrothermal treatment of
micropolar fluid have been discussed through graphically.

2 | P R O B L E M F O R M U L AT I O N A N D G O V E R N I N G
EQUATIONS

The presented physical model is the current investigation and schematically depicted in
Figure 1A. A horizontal embedded cylindrical geometrical configuration (square) is situated at
the vertical mid‐plane of a square cavity of length L. The edge length the square cylinder, d1
(=0.2 L). The study of MHD micropolar fluid flow around isothermal hot cylindrical square in
square cavity of dimensions (L × L) is considered. The vertical boundaries of the domain of
interest are maintained at different temperatures while the top and bottom boundaries of the
cavity are thermally insulated. Uniform constant hot temperature is applied to the interior
square body. In the present investigation the following assumptions are considered.

▪ Unsteady micropolar fluid flow (2D model, that is, z‐direction is ignored).
▪ The laminar and Incompressible fluid as considered as working fluid.
▪ Gravity g acts downwards.
▪ The magnetic field is applied horizontally.
▪ The Boussinesq approximation is applied.

Based on the discussed assumptions, the dimensional coupled partial differential equations
are (the conservation of mass, momentum, and thermal transport equations) expressed in the
Cartesian form as follows11,35‐38
∂u ∂v
+ = 0, (1)
∂x ∂y
⎛ ∂u ∂u ∂u ⎞ ∂p ⎛ ∂ 2u ∂ 2u ⎞ ∂N
ρ⎜ +u +v ⎟=− + (μ + κ )⎜ 2 + ⎟+κ , (2)
⎝ ∂t ∂x ∂y ⎠ ∂x ⎝ ∂x ∂y ⎠
2 ∂y
⎛ ∂v ∂v ∂v ⎞ ∂p ⎛ ∂ 2v ∂ 2v ⎞ ∂N σ
ρ⎜ +u +v ⎟=− + (μ + κ )⎜ 2 + 2 ⎟ − κ − B02 v + gβ (T − Tc ), (3)
⎝ ∂t ∂x ∂y ⎠ ∂y ⎝ ∂x ∂y ⎠ ∂x ρ

⎛ ∂N ∂N ∂N ⎞ ⎛ ∂ 2N ∂ 2N ⎞ ⎛ ∂v ∂u ⎞
ρj⎜ +u +v ⎟ = γ⎜ 2 + ⎟ − 2κN + κ ⎜ − ⎟, (4)
⎝ ∂t ∂x ∂y ⎠ ⎝ ∂x ∂y 2 ⎠ ⎝ ∂x ∂y ⎠
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 5

F I G U R E 1 (A) Schematic diagram and (B) computation flow chart [Color figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]

∂T ∂T ∂T ⎛ ∂ 2T ∂ 2T ⎞
+u +v = α⎜ 2 + ⎟. (5)
∂t ∂x ∂y ⎝ ∂x ∂y 2 ⎠

The initial and boundary conditions are39

t = 0 u = v = T = N = 0 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 0 ≤ y ≤ 1
∂T
t > 0 u = v = 0, ∂y = N = 0 at y = 0, 1
u = v = 0, T = Th , N = 0 at x = 0
u = v = 0, T = Tc , N = 0 at x = l.

The following dimensionless variables are introduced:

tα x y uL vL T − Tc ψ¯ ¯ 2
ωL
τ= , X = , Y = , U = , V = , θ = , ψ = , ω = ,
L2 L L α α Th − Tc α α
ηL2
N= , (6)
α
∂ψ¯ ∂ψ¯
u= , v=− , (7)
∂y ∂x
6 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

∂v ∂u
ω¯ = − . (8)
∂x ∂y
The help of above relations of Stream function and vorticity the non‐dimensional governing
equations as re‐written as follows:
∂ 2ψ ∂ 2ψ
+ = −ω, (9)
∂X 2 ∂Y 2
∂U ∂U ∂U ∂P ⎛ ∂ 2U ∂ 2U ⎞ ∂η
+U +V =− + (1 + K )Pr ⎜ 2 + ⎟ + K . Pr , (10)
∂τ ∂X ∂Y ∂X ⎝ ∂X ∂Y ⎠2 ∂Y

∂V ∂V ∂V ∂P ⎛ ∂ 2V ∂ 2V ⎞ ∂η
+U +V =− + (1 + K )Pr ⎜ 2 + ⎟ − KPr − PrHa2 V + Ra. Prθ ,
∂τ ∂X ∂Y ∂Y ⎝ ∂X ∂Y ⎠2 ∂X
(11)
∂η ∂ψ ∂η ∂ψ ∂η ⎛ ∂ 2η ∂ 2η ⎞
+ − = Pr (1 + K /2)⎜ 2 + ⎟ − Pr K (ω − 2η), (12)
∂τ ∂Y ∂X ∂X ∂Y ⎝ ∂X ∂Y 2 ⎠
∂θ ∂ψ ∂θ ∂ψ ∂θ ∂ 2θ ∂ 2θ
+ − = 2
+ . (13)
∂τ ∂Y ∂X ∂X ∂Y ∂X ∂Y 2

υ h c gβ (T − T )L3
Here, Prandtl number Pr = α and Rayleigh number Ra = αυ
.
The appropriate boundary conditions of the above nondimensional governing
equations are:
U = V = η = 0, On solid walls,

∂θ
= 0, On insulated walls,
∂X
θ = 0, On cold wall (right wall),

θ = 1 − Y , On hot wall (left wall),

θ = 1, On hot walls of the concentrated square body.

The local Nusselt number along the heated wall is defined as
hL
Nu = .
k
Here, h denotes the heat transfer coefficient that can be expressed as
q
h= ,
Th − Tc

where q is the rate of heat flux for unit area

Th − Tc ∂θ
q = −k .
L ∂X wall

Then the local Nusselt number is

∂θ
Nu = − . (14)
∂X wall
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 7

The average Nusselt number is given by

1
AvgNu = ∫0 NudY . (15)

3 | NUMERICAL D ETAILS

The nonlinear‐coupled governing Equations (9)–(13), along with the corresponding boundary
conditions, were solved by finite difference scheme. The converted conservative weak form of
the governing equations is solved with a Harlow–Welch Marker and Cell (MAC) method.
A stable, convergent solution is achieved using a staggered grid system. The uniform grid
system is considered in the present computation. The time integration is applied to the
developed numerical iterative scheme, while this time loop ends when the numerical system
reaches the steady state. Detailed solutions are shown in the flow chart (Figure 1B).
First‐order explicit time integration of governing equations as follows.
Now, solve the intermediate velocity as follows:
⎡ ⎛ ∂U ∂U ⎞ ⎛ ∂ 2U ∂ 2U ⎞ ∂η ⎤
n
U ** = U n − Δt ⎢−⎜U +V ⎟ + (1 + K )Pr ⎜ + ⎟ + K . Pr ⎥ , (16)
⎣ ⎝ ∂X ∂Y ⎠ ⎝ ∂X 2 ∂Y 2 ⎠ ∂Y ⎦
⎡ ⎤n
n
V ** = V − Δt ⎢
(∂V ∂V
) ∂ 2V
⎢− U ∂X + V ∂Y + (1 + K )Pr ∂X 2 + ( ∂ 2V
∂Y 2 ) ⎥
⎥ . (17)
∂η
⎢⎣ −KPr ∂X − PrHa2 V + Ra. Prθ ⎥⎦

After obtaining the intermediate velocities, we need to solve the following Pressure Poisson
Equation (PPE).
The PEE equation is
1 ⎛ ∂U ** ∂V ** ⎞
∇2 P n +1 = ⎜ + ⎟. (18)
Δt ⎝ ∂X ∂Y ⎠
The corrected velocities are obtained with the corrector step as given below:
⎛ ∂P n +1 ⎞
U n +1 = U ** − Δt ⎜ ⎟, (19)
⎝ ∂X ⎠
⎛ ∂P n +1 ⎞
V n +1 = V ** − Δt ⎜ ⎟, (20)
⎝ ∂Y ⎠
⎛ ∂η ∂η ⎛ ∂ 2η ∂ 2η ⎞ ⎞n
ηn +1 = ηn − Δt ⎜U −V + Pr (1 + K /2)⎜ 2 + ⎟ − Pr K (ω − 2η )⎟ . (21)
⎝ ∂X ∂Y ⎝ ∂X ∂Y 2 ⎠ ⎠

The temperature is calculated as follows:

⎡ ⎛ ∂ (Uθ ) ∂ (Vθ ) ⎞ ⎤n
θ n +1 = θ n − Δt ⎢−⎜ + ⎟ + ∇2 θ ⎥ . (22)
⎣ ⎝ ∂X ∂Y ⎠ ⎦
The entire procedure was repeated in the successive time levels until U, V, η, and θ converge
at a given time level when the following convergence criteria:
8 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

ϕi, j n +1 − ϕi, j n
≤ 10−6 (23)
ϕi, j n +1

for velocity profiles, temperature, and angular momentum have been met. In the above ex-
pression, n represents the time level and ϕ represents U, V, η, and θ. The numerical integration
of Equation (14) was performed after the steady‐state temperature field is obtained.

3.1 | Code validation and grid sensitivity

To validate the present numerical method (MAC method), a 2D enclosure filled with viscous
fluid is considered. A comparison of our results for streamlines and isotherms with the result
due to Ha et al.40 is presented in Figure 2. With Ra = 103. The author Ha et al.40 considered a
2D unsteady natural convection in an enclosure with a square body. It is found that the present
numerical result is validated with their result correlated up to 98%. The Figure 3 pre-
sents comparison between the results of streamlines and isotherms contours due to Asan41 with
Ra = 103. It is found that the results obtained by Asan41 are in excellent agreement. The grid
sensitivity test was conducted with flow controlling parameters: buoyancy parameter Ra = 103,
Magnetic number Ha = 50, Prandtl number Pr = 7, and Vortex viscosity parameter K = 1, with
constant heat obstacle in the middle of the enclosure. Figure 4 shows the central line velocity of
U for three cases of the uniform grids (41 × 41, 51 × 51, and 61 × 61) and we selected a uniform
mesh size of 51 × 51 for further investigation.

4 | RESULTS A ND DISCUSSION

This section will depict and illustrate all computational results. The aim of the present work
investigates the effect of Various dimensionless parameters like Rayleigh number
(103 ≤ Ra ≤ 106), Magnetic/Hartmann parameter (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 50), and Vortex viscosity
parameter (0 ≤ K ≤ 5). For all simulations results, pure water is considered as the base fluid
with Pr = 7. Streamlines and isotherm contours are delineated to visualize the flow patterns
and temperature fields, respectively. The heat transfer characteristics are quantified in terms of
local Nusselt number and surface average Nusselt number. In detail, the buoyancy force is
naturally more effective for higher Rayleigh numbers, where the Lorentz force reduces velo-
cities and suppresses the convection currents. On the other hand, when Ra/Ha2 = O(1) both
forces are equally effective. Finally, although the transient governing equations have been
solved, we plot the steady‐state solutions of the governing equations.
Fluid flow patterns for dissimilar values of Vortex viscosity parameter (both cases, i.e., K = 0
and K > 0) with the impact of various values of Hartmann number Ha for Ra = 105 and Pr = 7 is
well exhorted in Figure 5. It is clearly seen that the fluid flow rises up perpendicular to the
gravity and falls down along the vertical walls with clockwise and anticlockwise rotations inside
the cavity. Multi‐eddies are developed with the enclosure due to the hot isothermal square
cylindrical obstacle placed at center of the cavity for the case of higher values of Hartmann
number. The flow field inside the enclosure is discussed with viscous fluid (K = 0) and micro-
rotational liquid (K > 0). The significant role plays a magnetic field on the flow field in the case
of absence of vortex viscosity parameter K, its influence is observed in Figure 5 in top row.
At Ra = 105, the fluid flow raised along the hot surface and raised down along the cold surface.
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 9

(A)

(B)

F I G U R E 2 Comparison of streamlines and isotherms for Ra = 103 numerical data of Man Yeong Haa40
(A) and present results (B) [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Due to this mechanism the minor cell is developed at top corner of the non‐isothermal wall. In
absence of Ha, the convection is more, is it observed in Figure 5 for the case of Newtonian fluid.
The two convective cells are developed adjacent the cold region. The fluid flow raised from the
hot surface of the non‐isothermal wall and due to the hot obstacle, the cells are merged and an
enlarged eddy generated along the cold wall, for the large Ha additional minor cells generated
within the enlarged circulation. For (non‐Newtonian fluids, i.e., K > 0) as K is increased a small
change is observed and the respective eddies of top left corner is slightly enlarged and little
increment of fluid flow along hot surface and obstacle with the movement toward cold wall is
observed. In addition, for the vortex viscosity parameter K is increased from 0 to 5, the flow
patterns are changed gradually. In addition to the vortex viscosity parameter K when the
Hartmann number Ha increased the eddies are enlarged first and then the inner most eddy split
10 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

F I G U R E 3 Comparison of streamlines and isotherms for Ra = 103. Asan41 (upper row) and present
computation (bottom row) [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

into two different smaller eddies along right cold wall, the top left minor circulation is magnified
and the enlarged circulation is increased. As the Hartmann number increases lower values of
streamlines were observed. The flow patterns indicate lower values of the streamlines and
weaker rotation due to higher Hartmann number.
The thermal contours for different values of K with impact of different values of Hartmann
number Ha on it, for Ra = 105 and Pr = 7 is exhibited in Figure 6. In absence of vertex viscosity
(K = 0), the isotherms contours are spreads from hot wall to cold walls while the square hot
obstacle makes a clustered temperature contours near the cold regions of the wall. We further
notice that the strong temperature gradients found near the top portion of the right vertical
walls in the absence of Hartmann number is weakened in the presence of viscous viscosity
parameter due to loss of heat from the top wall. The heat transmission from hot surface to cold
surface is clearly exhibited in the left wall. For non‐Newtonian fluid behavior (K > 0) when K
rises the respective clustered isotherms are diminished and generated a little far from the hot
wall. In spite of K when Ha increased distribution of temperature within the enclosure around
the obstacle is strengthen weaker and with the impact of uniform magnetic field the isotherms
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 11

F I G U R E 4 Different mesh sizes of central line velocity profile of U for Ra = 103, Pr = 7, Ha = 50, K = 1
[Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

are detracted toward the cold wall from uniform constant hot wall through the obstacle. In
overall observation the stronger thermal boundary layer is developed for case of K = 0 and
Ha = 0. The thermal boundary layer is disappeared when the magnetic field is increased while
the vortex viscosity parameter is increases the flow rate and also heat transfer rate. The con-
vection gets weaker due to the stronger magnetic field, which is observed from the isotherms.
When the magnetic field (Ha = 50) is applied perpendicular to gravity, an additional resistive‐
type of force called Lorentz force is provoked in the cavity. It decreases the strength of the fluid
circulation, and hence it reduces the temperature distribution in the overall cavity.
The local Nusselt number is one of the key factors to analyze the heat distribution along the
hot/cold wall. Figure 7 depicts the influence of thermal Rayleigh number on heat distribution
along both the side walls. It reveals the heat transfer rate between the Newtonian and mi-
cropolar fluid. Heat transfer rate along nonlinear temperature hot wall is shown in Figure 7A
and another isothermal cold wall is shown in Figure 7B with Pr = 7 and Ha = 0. Heat transfer
rate increases significantly when Ra varies from 103 to 106. The variation of heat transfer in
Newtonian fluid (K = 0) is indicated by solid line and the variation of heat transfer in micro-
polar fluid (K = 1) is indicated by dashes line. Higher heat distribution rate is observed in
viscous fluid (K = 0) when related with the micropolar fluid (K = 1).
Local Nu for distinct values of magnetic parameters along the left and right walls with
Ra = 105, Pr = 7, and K = 1 are represented in Figure 8A,B, respectively, when Ha = 0 sym-
metric heat distribution is noticed at the heated wall and non‐symmetry temperature dis-
tribution is observed at the cold wall. When Ha is enhances then the local Nusselt number is
reduced. The regardless of vortex viscosity parameter the average Nu is increased with raising
of Ra as seen in Figure 9 in the case, Ha = 0. The average Nu is diminutions with growing of
vortex viscosity parameter K. Figure 10 expresses the impact of Ha on average Nu. The average
Nusselt number is increased with raising of thermal Ra while the average Nu is drops when the
magnetic parameter increased.
12 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

F I G U R E 5 Streamline patterns for various values of vortex viscosity parameter K and different values of
Hartmann number Ha for Ra = 105 and Pr = 7 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 13

F I G U R E 6 Isotherms contours for various values of vortex viscosity parameter K and different values of
Hartmann number Ha for Ra = 105 and Pr = 7 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
14 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

(A) (B)

F I G U R E 7 Local Nusselt number for various values of Rayleigh number. (A) Left wall and (B) right
wall, Pr = 7 and Ha = 0 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

(A) (B)

F I G U R E 8 Local Nusselt number for various values of Hartmann number. (A) Left wall and (B) right wall,
Ra = 105, Pr = 7, and K = 1 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

5 | CONCLUSIONS

In this paper, finite difference‐based MAC technique is used to solve the present numerical
investigation of buoyancy‐driven flow of microrotational fluid in a computational domain
(square enclosure) with hot square cylindrical obstacle. MHD convective flow in a computa-
tional domain with a horizontal embedded cylindrical geometrical configuration (square) is
situated at the vertical mid‐plane of a square cavity of length L. The edge length the square
cylinder, d1 (=0.2 L) in the presence of isothermal and nonisothermal vertical walls has been
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 15

F I G U R E 9 Average Nusselt number of cold wall for various values of K, Pr = 7, and Ha = 0 [Color figure
can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

F I G U R E 10 Average Nusselt number of cold wall for different values of Ha, Pr = 7, and K = 1 [Color figure
can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
16 | SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL.

analyzed under a wide range of governing fluid parameters. The flow inside the enclosure is
steady, incompressible, and laminar and the working fluid is micropolar fluid with constant
Prandtl number Pr = 7.0. The influence of Hartmann number Ha, vortex viscosity parameter K,
and buoyancy number Ra on the flow patterns and heat distribution characteristics have been
analyzed. The present investigation shows the following findings.

• The local Nusselt number along the right wall increased substantially with the Ra and also
the eddies are growing stronger.
• Regardless of Rayleigh number, the flow rate and heat distribution rate decreases with
increasing magnetic field strength.
• The visualized results indicate that the average and local Nusselt number are minimum for a
non‐Newtonian fluid (K > 0) as compared with the case of K = 0.
• Fluid flow eddies, convection mechanism strengthened with raising of the thermal Rayleigh
number Ra, while they are suppressed for greater values of Hartmann number
• The average Nusselt number intensified with increasing thermal Rayleigh number, while the
opposite behavior is noticed in presence of a strong vortex viscosity parameter and magnetic
field.

NOMENCLATURE
B0 induced magnetic field
Cp specific heat
d1 side of the obstacle
g gravitational acceleration
Ha Hartmann number
j micro‐inertia density
κ vortex viscosity parameter
K dimensionless vortex viscosity parameter
L length of the enclosure
n micro‐gyration parameter
N dimensional micro rotation angular velocity
Nu local Nusselt number
AvgNu Average local Nusselt number
p pressure
Pr Prandtl number
Ra Rayleigh number
t time
T dimensional temperature
Th hot temperature
Tc cold temperature
(u, v ) dimensional velocity components
(x , y ) dimensional coordinate axes
(X , Y ) non dimensional coordinate axes

GREEK SYMBOLS
γ spin‐gradient viscosity
ρ fluid density
μ dynamic viscosity
SIVARAMI REDDY ET AL. | 17

η dimensionless angular momentum

ω nondimensional vorticity function
ψ dimensionless stream function
ω̄ dimensional vorticity function
ψ̄ dimensional stream function
τ nondimensional time
θ nondimensional temperature

DATA A VAILABILITY S TATEMENT

The data that supports the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author
upon reasonable request.

ORCID
V. Ramachandra Prasad http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9168-3825

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How to cite this article: Sivarami Reddy C, Ramachandra Prasad V, Jayalakshmi K.

Numerical simulation of natural convection heat transfer from a heated square cylinder
in a square cavity filled with micropolar fluid. Heat Transfer. 2021;1–19.
https://doi.org/10.1002/htj.22123