Effect of non-uniform asymmetric heating on the thermal and entropy generation characteristics for flow of Al2O3-water nanofluid in a micro-channel

Purpose The purpose of this study is to numerically analyze the thermal and entropy generation characteristics on two-dimensional, incompressible, laminar single-phase flow of Al2O3-water nanofluid in a micro-channel subjected to asymmetric sinusoidal wall heating with varying amplitude, length of fluctuation period and phase difference of applied heat flux for Reynolds number in the range of 25-1000. Design/methodology/approach The numerical computation is based on the Finite Element Method and the Lagrange finite element technique is used for approximating the flow variables within the computational domain. Findings The average Nusselt number increases with increasing Reynolds number (Re) for all the volume fractions of nanofluid. However, the total entropy generation decreases up to a critical value of Re and increases thereafter. Increase in volume fraction shifts the critical Re towards the lower Re regime. The average Nusselt number and total entropy generation increase with amplitude and length of fluctuation period of heat flux. The optimal choice of volume fraction for lesser entropy generation and higher heat transfer is found to be 3 per cent independent of the value of amplitude, length of fluctuation period and phase difference of the heat flux. Originality/value To the best of authors' knowledge, the interplay of various parameters concerning non-uniform heating in achieving the maximum heat transfer with minimum irreversibility has not been investigated. Focusing on this agenda, the results of this study would benefit the industrial sector in achieving the maximum heat transfer at the cost of minimum irreversibilities with an optimal choice of inlet Reynolds number, volume fraction of nanofluid, amplitude, length of the period of fluctuation of heat flux and phase difference of applied heat flux.