Numerical study of heat transfer enhancement in MHD free convection flow over vertical plate utilizing nanofluids

Abstract

A comprehensive numerical study of heat transfer enhancement in MHD free convection flow over vertical plate utilizing nanofluids has been carried out. Problem is formulated by using nanofluid volume fraction model by considering water based nanofluids containing copper and aluminum oxide. The transformed coupled, nonlinear dimensionless partial differential equations are solved numerically by using finite element method. The influence of pertinent physical parameters on velocity and temperature profiles is discussed and depicted with the aid of graphs. Finally, the numerical values of skin friction and Nusselt number within the flow regime are compared with the previously published work to ensure the correctness of this numerical scheme and an excellent agreement is obtained. Keywords: Magnetohydrodynamic, Nanofluid, Viscous dissipation, Radiation, Finite Element Method