Computational Analysis of Boundary Layer Flow of Magnetic Nanofluid with Heat and Mass Transfer Characteristics

Abstract

Due to the advancement of thermal devices in engineering systems, the utilization of nanofluid has been playing a vital role in the process of cooling electronic devices and heat transfer enhancement in many industrial manufacturing processes. Thus, the study of a boundary layer flow of a magnetic nanofluid has gained considerable in terest owing to its extensive engineering applications. Therefore, in this dissertation, the combined applications of boundary layer flow of magnetic nanofluid and porous medium (Darcian and non-Darcian porous medium) in the process of heat and mass transfer enhancement cases are investigated. Following this, computational analysis is done on specific fluid flow problems such as mixed convection flow of a radiating mag netic nanofluid past a convectively heated stretching/shrinking sheet in Darcian porous medium, Magnetite Ferrofluid (Fe3O4-H2O) flow past a convectively heated permeable stretching/shrinking sheet in a Darcy-Forchheimer porous medium and temporal stabil ity analysis of unsteady slip flow of chemically reactive and radiative magnetic nanofluid past a convectively heated permeable stretching/shrinking sheet in a non-Darcian porous medium. Using appropriate similarity transformations the governing nonlinear partial differential equations are converted into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations and then solved numerically using the shooting method with Runge-Kutta Fehlberg fourth-fifth order integration procedure in MAPLE software. Dual solutions are observed numerically, and their characteristics are analyzed through a hydrodynamic stability analysis. The effects of the pertinent parameters on velocity, temperature, and species concentration profiles are discussed thoroughly. Furthermore, the effects of these parameters on the skin friction coefficient, the Nusselt number, and the Sherwood number are analyzed through graphs and tables. The stability analysis indicates that a stable and physically realizable solution appeared in the upper branch solutions, whereas the second solution is unstable. Moreover, a positive smallest eigenvalue in the upper branch solutions is obtained