Influence of thermal conductivity on transient mixed convection in a vented cavity with a hollow cylinder and filled with CNT-water nanofluid

This study is aimed to perform a numerical time-dependent investigation thermal conductivity effect of the annular cylinder within a vented cavity using CNT based-water nanofluid. For demonstrating the effect of thermal conductivity, four distinct hollow cylinder materials such as Ks = 0.5(Plastic tiles), Ks = 0.84(Clay tiles), Ks = 1.1(Concrete tiles), and Ks = 2(Slate tiles) are introduced together with a suitable variation of dimensionless time (0 ≤ τ ≤ 1). The governing equations of the model with associated boundary conditions is solved using finite element based Galerkin's weighted residual method. Different contour plots for thermal and flow field transformation and mean Nusselt number, mean fluid temperature, bulk convective field temperature, temperature gradient, pressure gradient, vortices, and fluid velocity magnitude are presented for qualitative and quantitative thermal performance analysis. With the decrease of solid thermal conductivity, 27.3% thermal transport enhancement is noted from the heated surface of the cylinder. However, a 16.3% increase in the bulk fluid temperature has been recorded with the increase in cylinder conductivity. The numerical outcomes from this investigation propose a better thermo-fluid efficiency compared to the existing methodology which can be suggestive to engineers and researchers for designing heat exchangers, heat pipes, and other thermal systems.