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Symmetry
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Symmetry in Thermal Fluid Sciences and Energy Applications
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Symmetry in Thermal Fluid Sciences and Energy Applications

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering and Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 6888

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Nattan Roberto Caetano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
Interests: thermodynamics; applied optical techniques; diagnose combustion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Symmetry is a fundamental notion in thermal fluid sciences and energy applications. It is an important tool for elucidating the properties of complex systems. Thermal and fluid processes are applied in several modern energy-use technologies, basically consisting of the complex multidimensional interactions of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. A comprehensive analysis of this topic involves vector and scalar quantities in the flow field, where symmetry is strongly considered in order to simplify geometric parameters. These requirements are therefore also applied to experimental techniques. The interconnection between experimental analysis and the numerical simulation of processes is also an important field. Thus, there are a wide range of symmetry solutions for this area of ​​research, the results of which contribute to the development of science and information for decision-making in industry.

Prof. Dr. Nattan Roberto Caetano
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thermal and fluid science
  • energy production and use
  • fuels and combustion
  • diagnostic techniques of measurement
  • analysis for decision making in industry

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 12159 KiB  
Article
Numerical Study of Carreau Fluid Flow in Symmetrically Branched Tubes
by Vinicius Pepe, Antonio F. Miguel, Flávia Zinani and Luiz Rocha
Symmetry 2025, 17(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17010048 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 829
Abstract
The non-Newtonian Carreau fluid model is a suitable model for pseudoplastic fluids and can be used to characterize fluids not so different from biological fluids, such as the blood, and fluids involved in geological processes, such as lava and magma. These fluids are [...] Read more.
The non-Newtonian Carreau fluid model is a suitable model for pseudoplastic fluids and can be used to characterize fluids not so different from biological fluids, such as the blood, and fluids involved in geological processes, such as lava and magma. These fluids are frequently conveyed by complex flow structures, which consist of a network of channels that allow the fluid to flow from one place (source or sink) to a variety of locations or vice versa. These flow networks are not randomly arranged but show self-similarity at different spatial scales. Our work focuses on the design of self-similar branched flow networks that look the same on any scale. The flow is incompressible and stationary with a viscosity following the Carreau model, which is important for the study of complex flow systems. The flow division ratios, the flow resistances at different scales, and the geometric size ratios for maximum flow access are studied, based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A special emphasis is placed on investigating the possible incidence of flow asymmetry in these symmetric networks. Our results show that asymmetries may occur for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids and shear-thinning fluids most affect performance results. The lowest flow resistance occurs when the diameters of the parent and daughter ducts are equal, and the more uniform distribution of flow resistance occurs for a ratio between the diameters of the parent and daughter ducts equal to 0.75. Resistances for non-Newtonian fluids are 4.8 to 5.6 times greater than for Newtonian fluids at Reynolds numbers of 100 and 250, respectively. For the design of engineering systems and the assessment of biological systems, it is recommended that the findings presented are taken into account. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Thermal Fluid Sciences and Energy Applications)
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17 pages, 5313 KiB  
Article
Thermofluidics in Water-in-Glass Evacuated-Tube Solar Collectors Analysis Based on the Symmetry Conditions of Heat Flux and Tilt Angle
by Elder M. Mendoza Orbegoso, Josmell Alva Alcántara, Luis Julca Verástegui, Juan Carlos Bengoa, Daniel Marcelo-Aldana, Raúl La Madrid Olivares and Konstantinos G. Kyprianidis
Symmetry 2025, 17(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17010044 - 29 Dec 2024
Viewed by 792
Abstract
This research aims to determine the primary thermofluidic correlations describing the thermosiphon effect under idealized steady-state conditions, considering water-in-glass evacuated-tube geometry, tilt angle, and heat flux. A numerical model based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was developed to obtain these correlations for water-in-glass [...] Read more.
This research aims to determine the primary thermofluidic correlations describing the thermosiphon effect under idealized steady-state conditions, considering water-in-glass evacuated-tube geometry, tilt angle, and heat flux. A numerical model based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was developed to obtain these correlations for water-in-glass evacuated-tube solar collectors. Initial validation against experimental velocity and temperature profiles was necessary. With a validated CFD model, thermofluidic correlations were determined, expressed as dimensionless parameters such as Re, Gr, and Pr, water-in-glass evacuated-tube dimensions, and tilt angle. Symmetry was exploited in the water-in-glass evacuated-tube geometry for both validation simulations and the development of thermofluidic correlations. Contrary to correlations recorded in the literature, the correlations obtained in this study indicate an increase in water flow and a decrease in mean temperature with increasing tilt angle. These correlations are crucial for the energy–exergy balance formulations used in the analysis and design of such thermal systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Thermal Fluid Sciences and Energy Applications)
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18 pages, 8245 KiB  
Article
Effect of an Adiabatic Obstacle on the Symmetry of the Temperature, Flow, and Electric Charge Fields during Electrohydrodynamic Natural Convection
by Mohamed Issam Elkhazen, Dalila Akrour, Walid Hassen, Mohammed A. Almeshaal, Murugesan Palaniappan, Karim Choubani and Nidhal Hnaien
Symmetry 2024, 16(6), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16060761 - 18 Jun 2024
Viewed by 3789
Abstract
This study explores the impact of an adiabatic obstacle on the symmetry of temperature, flow, and electric charge fields during electrohydrodynamic (EHD) natural convection. The configuration studied involves a square, differentially heated cavity with an adiabatic obstacle subjected to a destabilizing thermal gradient [...] Read more.
This study explores the impact of an adiabatic obstacle on the symmetry of temperature, flow, and electric charge fields during electrohydrodynamic (EHD) natural convection. The configuration studied involves a square, differentially heated cavity with an adiabatic obstacle subjected to a destabilizing thermal gradient and a potential difference between horizontal walls. A numerical analysis was performed using the finite volume method combined with Patankar’s “blocked-off-regions” technique, employing an in-house FORTRAN code. The study covers a range of dimensionless electrical Rayleigh numbers (0 to 700) and thermal Rayleigh numbers (102 to 105), with various obstacle positions. Key findings indicate that while the obstacle reduces heat transfer, this can be counterbalanced by electric field effects, achieving up to 165% local heat transfer improvement and 100% average enhancement. Depending on the obstacle’s position and size, convective transfer can increase by 27% or decrease by 21%. The study introduces five multiparametric mathematical correlations for rapid Nusselt number determination, applicable to numerous engineering scenarios. This work uniquely combines passive (adiabatic obstacle) and active (electric field) techniques to control heat transfer, providing new insights into the flow behaviour and charge distribution in electro-thermo-hydrodynamic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Thermal Fluid Sciences and Energy Applications)
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22 pages, 15458 KiB  
Article
Control of Three-Dimensional Natural Convection of Graphene–Water Nanofluids Using Symmetrical Tree-Shaped Obstacle and External Magnetic Field
by Walid Aich, Inès Hilali-Jaghdam, Amnah Alshahrani, Chemseddine Maatki, Badr M. Alshammari and Lioua Kolsi
Symmetry 2024, 16(6), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16060692 - 4 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 957
Abstract
This numerical investigation explores the enhanced control of the 3D natural convection (NC) within a cubic cavity filled with graphene–water nanofluids, utilizing a bottom-center-located tree-shaped obstacle and a horizontal magnetic field (MF). The analysis includes the effects of the Rayleigh number (Ra), the [...] Read more.
This numerical investigation explores the enhanced control of the 3D natural convection (NC) within a cubic cavity filled with graphene–water nanofluids, utilizing a bottom-center-located tree-shaped obstacle and a horizontal magnetic field (MF). The analysis includes the effects of the Rayleigh number (Ra), the solid volume fraction of graphene (φ), the Hartmann number (Ha), and the fins’ length (W). The results show complex flow patterns and thermal behavior within the cavity, indicating the interactive effects of nanofluid properties, the tree-shaped obstacle, and magnetic field effects. The MHD effects reduce the convection, while the addition of graphene improves the thermal conductivity of the fluid, which enhances the heat transfer observed with increasing Rayleigh numbers. The increase in the fins’ length on the heat transfer efficiency is found to be slightly negative, which is attributed to the complex interplay between the enhanced heat transfer surface area and fluid flow disruption. This study presents an original combination of non-destructive methods (magnetic field) and a destructive method (tree-shaped obstacle) for the control of the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in a 3D cavity filled with graphene–water nanofluids. In addition, it provides valuable information for optimizing heat transfer control strategies, with applications in electronic cooling, renewable energy systems, and advanced thermal management solutions. The application of a magnetic field was found to reduce the maximum velocity and total entropy generation by about 82% and 76%, respectively. The addition of graphene nanoparticles was found to reduce the maximum velocity by about 5.5% without the magnetic field and to increase it by 1.12% for Ha = 100. Varying the obstacles’ length from W = 0.2 to W = 0.8 led to a reduction in velocity by about 23.6%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry in Thermal Fluid Sciences and Energy Applications)
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