Natural convection with water-copper nanofluid around a finned vertical cylindrical electronic component

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to quantify the free convective heat transfer around a vertical cylindrical electronic component equipped with vertical fins representing an antenna, contained in a closed cavity maintained isothermal. Its cooling is provided via a water-based copper nanofluid whose volume fraction varies between 0% and 10%. Its effective viscosity and thermal conductivity are determined with the Brinkman and Maxwell models. Design/methodology/approach The governing equation system has been solved by means of the volume control method based on the SIMPLE algorithm. Findings A Nusselt-Rayleigh correlation valid in the 3.32 × 105 – 6.74 × 107 Rayleigh number range is proposed. It allows the thermal sizing of the considered system used in high power electronics to ensure their correct operation in the worst conditions. Originality/value The proposed correlations are original and unpublished.