Three-dimensional computations of irreversibility and mixed convection flow within an enclosure with various thermal conditions

This study emphasizes a mixed convection lid-driven flow of a cubical cavity with entropy generation, in which the bottom and sidewalls are partially heated under uniform thermal conditions. However, it regards three distinct heating configurations for the bottom and sidewalls, while the enduring portions of the cavity, the right sidewall, and the unheated sections of the bottom and left walls are thermally insulated. A finite element method is employed to numerically delve into the intricate interactions between fluid flow and heat transportation. Furthermore, the solutions are acquired through meticulous graphical representations to scrutinize the impact of the key parameters. Thus, based on the verdicts of comprehensive research on the significance of the Grashof number (Gr), the intensity of fluid circulation augments with the increment in Gr, regardless of the values of the Prandtl number (Pr) and the Reynolds number (Re). The nature of convection, whether natural or forced, is persuaded by both the parameters Pr and the Richardson number (Ri). Auxiliary, surging the values of Re to 10 initiates fluid circulation; the isotherms manifest that some areas have uniformly low temperatures, while a large part, which is 70% of the region, is thermally blended. Furthermore, the local Nusselt number (Nu) rises as Re increases from 1.0 to 102, indicating enhanced convective heat transfer. The heat transport rate is quite high at the left edge of the top wall when enlarging the values of Re to 102 and gradually declines along the horizontal direction with proliferating distance.