Abstract
This study displays an exhaustive numerical analysis of entropy production and mixed convection in a 3D cavity filled with a phase change material (PCM) and incorporating a rotating cylinder. The temperature gradient was created between the hot right vertical wall and the cold left while the remaining walls are considered adiabatic. The impacts of various parameters such as the angular rotational velocity (−10 ≤ Ω ≤ 10), vertical position of the cylinder ((0.025 ≤ H ≤ 0.075)) and Hartmann number (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 10) on the convective heat transfer and entropy production were numerically studied in detail. The analysis found evidence to consider the rotating cylinder speed and position as good controlling parameters for the convective heat transfer and melting process in the enclosure. Imposing an angular velocity on the cylinder was found to enhance the heat transfer rate by 21.2% compared to motionless cylinder. In addition, it was noticed that the vertical position of the cylinder can be considered as optimizing parameter of the heat transfer. The application of an external magnetic field lead to the reduction of the heat transfers due to the generated Lorentz force that oppose the Buoyancy effect.