Saeed Aghakhani, Behzad Ghasemi, Ahmad Hajatzadeh Pordanjani, Somchai Wongwises and Masoud Afrand
The purpose of this study is to conduct a numerical analysis of flow and heat transfer of water–aluminum oxide nanofluid in a channel with extended surfaces in the presence of a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to conduct a numerical analysis of flow and heat transfer of water–aluminum oxide nanofluid in a channel with extended surfaces in the presence of a constant magnetic field. The channel consists of two parallel plates and five obstacles of constant temperature on the lower wall of the channel. The upper wall and the inlet and outlet lengths of the lower wall are insulated. A uniform magnetic field of the magnitude B0 is located beneath the obstacles. The nanofluid enters the channel with a uniform velocity and temperature, and a fully developed flow leaves the channel.
Design/methodology/approach
The control volume-based finite difference and the SIMPLE algorithm were used for numerical solution. In addition to examining the effect of the Reynolds number, the effects of Hartman number, the volume fraction of nanoparticles, the height of obstacles, the length of obstacles and the distance between the obstacles were investigated.
Findings
According to the results, the heat transfer rate increases with an increasing Reynolds number. As the Hartmann number increases, the heat transfer rate increases. The heat transfer rate also increases with an increase in the volume fraction of nanoparticles. The mean Nusselt number is reduced by an increasing height of obstacles. An increase in the distance between the obstacles in the presence of a magnetic field does not have a significant impact on the heat transfer rate. However, the heat transfer rate increases in the absence of a magnetic field, as the distance between the obstacles increases.
Originality/value
This paper is original and unpublished and is not being considered for publication elsewhere.
Details
Keywords
Mohamad Mustaqim Junoh, Fadzilah Md Ali, Norihan Md Arifin, Norfifah Bachok and Ioan Pop
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the steady magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) boundary layer stagnation-point flow of an incompressible, viscous and electrically conducting…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the steady magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) boundary layer stagnation-point flow of an incompressible, viscous and electrically conducting fluid past a stretching/shrinking sheet with the effect of induced magnetic field.
Design/methodology/approach
The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations via the similarity transformations before they are solved numerically using the “bvp4c” function in MATLAB.
Findings
It is found that there exist non-unique solutions, namely, dual solutions for a certain range of the stretching/shrinking parameters. The results from the stability analysis showed that the first solution (upper branch) is stable and valid physically, while the second solution (lower branch) is unstable.
Practical implications
This problem is important in the heat transfer field such as electronic cooling, engine cooling, generator cooling, welding, nuclear system cooling, lubrication, thermal storage, solar heating, cooling and heating in buildings, biomedical, drug reduction, heat pipe, space aircrafts and ships with better efficiency than that of nanofluids applicability. The results obtained are very useful for researchers to determine which solution is physically stable, whereby, mathematically more than one solution exist.
Originality/value
The present results are new and original for the problem of MHD stagnation-point flow over a stretching/shrinking sheet in a hybrid nanofluid, with the effect of induced magnetic field.