Open Access

ARTICLE

Synergistic Effects of Dual Source–Sink Pairs and Al₂O₃-Cu-TiO₂/Water Ternary Hybrid Nanofluid on Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Square Cavity

Amira Trodi^1,2,*, Nawal Ferroudj³, Amel Labed⁴, Riadh Bourzami⁵, Hasan Köten^6,*, Mohamed El Hocine Benhamza²
1 Department of Agrifood Technologies, Institute of Nutrition, Food and Agrifood Technologies (INATAA), Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 University, Constantine, Algeria
2 L.A.I.G.M., 8 May 1945 Guelma University, Guelma, Algeria
3 Laboratory of Biotechnology, National Higher School of Biotechnology (ENSB), Constantine 3 University, Constantine, Algeria
4 Faculty of Process Engineering, Constantine 3 University, Constantine, Algeria
5 Research Unit on Emerging Materials, Ferhat Abbas Sétif 1 University, Sétif, Algeria
6 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Campus, Istanbul, Turkey
* Corresponding Author: Amira Trodi. Email: ; Hasan Köten. Email:

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2026.083935

Received 13 April 2026; Accepted 08 July 2026; Published online 01 September 2026

Abstract

This study demonstrates that natural convection and heat transfer in a square cavity can be significantly enhanced using a water-based Al₂O₃–Cu–TiO₂ ternary hybrid nanofluid (THNF) with dual heat source–sink pairs. Using the finite volume method under a single-phase nanofluid model with the Boussinesq approximation, we investigate the effects of Rayleigh number (10³ ≤ Ra ≤ 10⁶), nanoparticle volume fraction (φ ≤ 0.1), nanofluid composition, and source–sink configuration on flow structures, temperature distribution, and thermal performance. Validation against benchmark and literature data confirms the accuracy of our simulations. Results show that the optimal alternating source–sink arrangement with THNF increases the average Nusselt number by 41–45% over Cu/water nanofluid and 18–21% over Al₂O₃–Cu/water hybrid nanofluid at φ = 0.1, especially at low Rayleigh numbers. These findings reveal a strong synergy between ternary hybrid nanofluids and source–sink positioning, highlighting the combined effects of nanoparticle interactions and flow patterns. The study provides practical guidance for designing efficient thermal management systems in electronics, energy, and industrial applications, emphasizing both performance enhancement and potential environmental benefits.

---

Keywords

Ternary hybrid nanofluid; heat transfer enhancement; square cavity; source-sink; finite volume method

---