Finite Element Analysis of MHD Thermal Management in a Ventilated Cavity with

Thermal management of ventilated cavities is one of the most significant challenges in the design of microfluidic heat sinks, electronic cooling systems, and medical diagnostics systems. The objective of this study is to examine the thermal and fluid dynamic response of a ventilated cavity with two heated obstacles under the influence of an external electromagnetic field. The ventilated cavity is filled with advanced ternary hybrid nanofluids (THNF) that account for the shape, volume and enhanced thermal properties of the nanoparticles. The governing continuity, Navier–Stokes & energy equations were solved numerically using the Finite Element Method (FEM) in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2. This study considered six parameters: Reynolds number (Re), Hartma number (Ha), magnetic field angle, particle shape factor ((n = 3.7 (cylindrical shape), 5.7 (Brick shape) and 4.9 (Platelets)), obstacle-gaps, and nanoparticle volume fractions. The findings show that increasing Re and increasing volume fractions increase heat transfer, whereas increasing Ha decreases the velocity and thermal transport characteristics of the fluid. A magnetic field angle of 90° was shown to enhance heat transfer at specific points in the cavity, with overall reductions in buoyancy flow and heat transport. The study identified the optimal condition for minimum entropy generation of (5.64×10-4) occurred at Re = 2000, Ha = 25, and Φ = 1%, and result for effective thermal insulation (minimum average Nusselt number = 17.677), occurred at Re = 100, Ha = 50 and Φ = 10%.