Natural convection and entropy generation of ultrafine atmospheric aerosols in the presence of hydrodynamic partial slip and thermal radiation due to solar energy

Combined effects of hydrodynamic partial slip, thermal radiation due to solar energy, and nanoparticles volume fraction on natural convection and entropy generation of atmospheric ultrafine aerosols sample enclosed within a two-sided lid-driven cavity are studied numerically in the present contribution. Partial slip effect is taken into account along the two horizontal moving walls, and thermal radiation is considered through Rosseland approximation. The governing equations are solved using an accurate finite volume method based on SIMPLE algorithm. The impact of Brownian motion of nanoparticles is also considered in this study, whereby KKL (Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li) correlation is utilized for simulating the effective thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluid. The heatline visualization technique is also utilized to study the energy flux within the cavity. A comprehensive study is conducted on the controlling parameters, including partial slip coefficient (λ = 0 — 5), radiation parameter (Rd = 0 — 2), and nanoparticles volume fraction (ϕ= 0 — 4%), which influence the flow and heat transfer characteristics. Results show that the partial slip usually eliminates the effect of mechanical forces provoked by the moving lids. Moreover, thermal radiation homogenizes the medium thermally, which results in decreasing the average entropy generation. It is also observed that the effect of carbon-black nanoparticles on the atmospheric heat transfer manifests a wide variety of fashions mainly dependent on the presence or absence of thermal radiation due to solar energy.