Buoyancy-driven nano-suspension subject to interstitial solid/nanofluid heat transfer coefficient: Role of local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE)

Background: Because of the prominent temperature discrepancy between fluid and solid in porous material, local thermal equilibrium (LTE) is not suitable in case of high-conductivity foams and electronic equipment. In view of above situation, Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model subject to local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) is implemented. LTNE technique finds real world applications include groundwater pollution, geothermal extraction, microwave heating, industrial separation process, and transpiration cooling featuring with porous structure. The present study aims at the investigation of the entropy and hydrothermal characteristics of buoyancy-driven TiO₂-H₂O nanofluid inside a cross-shaped domain embodying two hot and cold rings influenced by LTNE. Methods: Finite element method (FEM) has been considered to solve the dimensionless form of governing equations. Significant findings: Amplification of interstitial solid/nanofluid heat transfer coefficient accounts for the intensification of streamlines, velocities, and diminution of isothermal lines in both nanofluid and solid matrix phases under the influence of LTNE. Strengthening of medium porosity whittles down entropy due to thermal effects in both nanofluid and solid phases, and that ameliorates entropy due to fluid friction and porous medium irreversibilities. Local and average Nusselt numbers in nanofluid phase reduce by 29.31 %, 20.72 %, 17.16 %, and 14.78 % while that in solid phase decays by 13.18 %, 7.63 %, 4.9 %, and 2.8 % for rise in εfrom 0.1 to 0.3, 0.3 to 0.5, 0.5 to 0.7, and 0.7 to 0.9, respectively. Introduction of Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model subject to LTNE yielded better results in hydrothermal behavior of TiO₂-H₂O nanofluid inside a cross-shaped domain emplacing two hot and cold rings than earlier published results.