Convection flow and heat transfer in a square cavity with non-Newtonian cross nanofluid

This study investigates forced convection flow and heat transfer of non-Newtonian nanofluid in a square cavity. The Cross model is introduced to characterize the viscosity of the base fluid combined with nanoparticle volume fraction. The coupled equations are solved numerically by the finite volume-method. The effects of different nanoparticle volume fraction and power law index are discussed in detail on flow and temperature fields. Results indicate that viscosity rises with the increase of nanoparticle volume fraction. Pressure drop declines as the power law index increases, but rises with the augment of nanoparticle volume fraction. Moreover, the total Nusselt number first increases and then declines with the augment of power law index, but decreases with the augment of nanoparticle volume fraction. © 2017 by Begell House, Inc.