Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the conformable fractal approaches of unsteady natural convection in a partial layer porous H-shaped cavity suspended by nano-encapsulated phase change material (NEPCM) by the incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics method. Design/methodology/approachThe partial hot sources with variable height L_Hot are in the H-cavity's sides and center. The performed numerical simulations are obtained at the variations of the following parameters: source of hot length L_Hot = (0.4-1.6), conformable fractal parameter alpha (0.97-1), fusion temperature theta(f) (0.05-0.9), thermal radiation parameter Rd (0-7), Rayleigh number Ra (10(3)-10(6)), Darcy parameter Da (10(-2) to 10(-5)) and Hartmann number Ha (0-80). FindingsThe main outcomes showed the implication of hot source length L_Hot, Rayleigh number and fusion temperature in controlling the contours of a heat capacity within H-shaped cavity. The presence of a porous layer in the right zone of H-shaped cavity prevents the nanofluid flow within this area at lower Darcy parameter. An increment in the thermal radiation parameter declines the heat transfer and changes the heat capacity contours within H-shaped cavity. The velocity field is strongly enhanced by an augmentation on Rayleigh number. Increasing the Hartmann number shrinks the velocity field within H-shaped cavity. Originality/valueThe novelty of this work is solving the conformable fractal approaches of unsteady natural convection in a partial layer porous H-shaped cavity suspended by NEPCM.