Optimization of a lid-driven T-shaped porous cavity to improve the nanofluids mixed convection heat transfer

In this work, mixed convection heat transfer of nanofluids in a T-shaped lid-driven porous cavity is studied. The governing equations for a simple cavity are studied based on the previous work. It is further changed to complicated porous media and solved by finite element method (FEM). Because shape and dimensions of the T-cavity have significant effects on the heat transfer efficiency and Nusselt number, it is important to find the optimal geometry for this cavity. In our study, a novel response surface methodology (RSM) is applied for the optimization. After finding the optimal geometry of T-shaped cavity, effect of the constant coefficients (such as Reynolds (Re), Richardson (Ri) and Darcy (Da) numbers, etc.) on the Nusselt number, isotherm and streamlines in the cavity are studied and discussed. Furthermore in this study, effect of different nanoparticles (Al₂O₃, Cu and TiO₂) and their volume fraction on Nusselt number is investigated.