MHD forced convection of MWCNT–Fe₃O₄/water hybrid nanofluid in a partially heated τ-shaped channel using LBM

Forced convection heat transfer of multi-wall carbon nanotubes–iron oxide nanoparticles/water hybrid nanofluid (MWCNT–Fe₃O₄/water hybrid nanofluid) inside a partially heated τ-shaped channel has been numerically investigated. The effect of magnetic field is taken into account. The governing equations are solved by the lattice Boltzmann method in the domain, and the results were compared with other numerical methods by an excellent agreement between them. The effects of parameters such as Hartmann number (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 60), volume fraction of nanoparticles (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.003) and different location of two heaters on the fluid flow and heat transfer are studied. The results indicate that for all cases, the average Nusselt number of each heater increases as the volume fraction of nanoparticles increases. The heat transfer characteristics were significantly affected by the arrangement of the two heaters. The heaters located on the left half of the top wall is convection-dominant mechanism, and the conduction heat transfer is the primary mechanism when the heater is on the right half of the top wall. The average Nusselt number increases as Ha increases for the heater of dominating convection mechanism but decreases for the heater of dominating conduction mechanism.