Physics

Reynolds number

Darcy number

Heat transfer

Mechanics

Entropy (arrow of time)

Rayleigh number

Nusselt number

Turbulence

Bejan number

Materials science

Nanofluid

Hartmann number

Computer science

Enclosure

Natural convection

Telecommunications

Thermodynamics

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat &amp Fluid Flow

Purpose Natural convection heat transfer analysis can be completed using entropy generation analysis. This study aims to accomplish both the natural convection heat transfer and entropy generation analyses for a hexagonal cavity loaded with Cu-H2O nanoliquid subjected to an oriented magnetic field. Design/methodology/approach Control volume-based finite element method is applied to solve the non-dimensional forms of governing equations and then, the entropy generation number is computed. Findings The results portray that both the average Nusselt and entropy generation numbers boost with increasing aspect ratio for each value of the undulation number, while both of them decrease with increasing the undulation number for each amplitude parameter. There is a maximum value for the entropy generation number at a specified value of Hartmann number. Also, there is a minimum value for the entropy generation number at a specified value of angle of the magnetic field. When the volume fraction of nanoparticles grows, the average Nusselt number increases and the entropy generation number declines. The entropy generation number attains to a maximum value at Ha = 14 for each value of aspect ratio. The average Nusselt number ascends 2.9 per cent and entropy generation number decreases 1.3 per cent for Ha = 0 when ϕ increases from 0 to 4 per cent. Originality/value A hexagonal enclosure (complex geometry), which has many industrial applications, is chosen in this study. Not only the characteristics of heat transfer are investigated but also entropy generation analysis is performed in this study. The ecological coefficient of performance for enclosures is calculated, too.

Second law analysis of magneto-natural convection in a nanofluid filled wavy-hexagonal porous enclosure