Mixed convection flow of non-Newtonian fluid in a porous inlet-outlet chamber formed by faults causing earthquakes

This article relates with FEM based numerical analysis for mixed convection flow of non-Newtonian Bingham fluid and heat transport in a porous inlet-outlet chamber produced by faults causing earthquakes. The chamber formed by faults during earthquakes has significant applications in energy processes, extraction of geothermal energy and enhanced fluid dynamicsin the subsurface reservoirs. These fault chambers facilitate natural fluid mixing for improving heat transmission and energy storage in the form of compressed air or fluids. This problem is developed to study fluid dynamics and convective process of geothermal systems. It is mostly caused by the tensional faults zone which is formed by accumulated energy of radioactive material disintegration. This chamber is accountable for energy transport in the form of heat. A laminar, incompressible and steady fluid flow is considered. Impact of magnetohydrodynamics through Lorentz force is invoked. Mixed convective Darcyforchheimer flow of Bingham fluid is taken into the account. A corrugated heated obstacle positioned at the center of chamber. The governing nonlinear PDE’s are modified into dimensionless form. Dimensionless equations are solved by finite element scheme. Impacts of several variables such as Reynolds number 200 ≤ Re ≤ 600, Hartmann number (20 ≤ Ha ≤ 60), darcy number (10.5 to 10.1) and Bingham number (2 ≤ Bn ≤ 6) on velocity flow field and heat distributions are studied. Streamlines and isotherm contours are illustrated in the discussion section. Heat transport rates are discussed. Heat transmission improves up to 58% and 30% by enhancing Re and Da respectively and it reduces for Ha and Bn up to 29% and 27% respectively.