Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and

BoundaryCONVECTION
Layer Control of A Nanofluid
With
Heat
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC
MIXED
FLOW
AND
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
BOUNDARY
LAYER CONTROL OF A NANOFLUID WITH HEAT
Calculated
by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)
GENERATION/ABSORPTION EFFECTS

M.Chandrasekar1,

M.S.Kasiviswanathan2

Volume 6, Issue 6, June (2015), pp. 18-32

Article ID: 30120150606003
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology
IAEME: http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET.asp
ISSN 0976 6340 (Print)
ISSN 0976 6359 (Online)

1
2

IJMET

IAEME

Department of Mathematics, Anna University, Chennai-600 025, India,

Department of Mathematics, Anna University, Chennai-600 025, India,

ABSTRACT
This research work is focused on the numerical solution of steady MHD mixed convection
boundary layer flow of a nanofluid over a semi-infinite flat plate with heat generation/absorption and
viscous dissipation effects in the presence of suction and injection. Gyarmatis variational principle
developed on the thermodynamic theory of irreversible processes is employed to solve the problem
numerically. The governing boundary layer equations are approximated as simple polynomial
functions, and the functional of the variational principle is constructed. The Euler-Lagrange
equations are reduced to simple polynomial equations in terms of momentum and thermal boundary
layer thicknesses. The velocity, temperature profiles as well as skin friction and heat transfer rates
are solvable for any given values of Prandtl number Pr, magnetic parameter , heat source/sink
parameter Q, buoyancy parameter Ri, suction/injection parameter H and viscous dissipation
parameter Ec. The obtained results are compared with known numerical solutions and the
comparison is found to be satisfactory.
Keywords: Boundary Layer, Gyarmatis Variational Principle, Heat Source/Sink, Mixed
Convection, Nanofluid
1. INTRODUCTION
The prime objective of this work is to study the heat transfer enhancement in mixed convection
nanofluid flow over a flat plate with heat source/sink and magneto hydrodynamic effects using a
genuine variational principle developed by Gyarmati. Recently in many industrial applications
nanofluids are used as heat carriers in heat transfer equipment instead of conventional fluids due to
its relatively higher thermal conductivity. The potential benefits of nanofluids are theoretically and
experimentally investigated by many researchers in the past two decades. Buongiorno [1] explained
the seven slip mechanisms as reasons for the heat transfer enhancement observed in nanofluids. Due
to the great potential and characteristics of nanofluid still more research work to be done to study
heat transfer enhancement mechanism.
Khan and Pop [2] solved the numerical solution of a nanofluid flow over a stretching sheet.
The analysis on free convection nanofluid flow over a vertical plate with different boundary
conditions on the nanoparticle volume fraction was investigated by Kuznetsov and Nield [3, 4].
Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

18

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

Chamkha and Aly [5] considered the boundary layer equations for natural convection flow of an
electrically conducting nanofluid past a plate in the presence of heat generation and absorption
effects. The same problem without Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects was analyzed by
Hamad et al. [6]. Rana and Bhargava [7] presented an analysis on mixed convective boundary layer
flow of nanofluid over a vertical flat plate with temperature dependent heat source/sink. The
stagnation point flow of unsteady case in a nanofluid was described by Bachok et al. [8]. The
boundary layer solution for forced convection flow of alumina-water nanofluid over a flat plate in
the presence of magnetic effect was studied by Hatami et al. [9]. Vajravelu et al. [10] observed the
effects of variable viscosity and viscous dissipation on the forced convection flow of water based
nanofluids. The stagnation point flow of nanofluid towards a stretching sheet in the presence of
transverse magnetic field was studied by Ibrahim et al. [11].
By considering all the above facts, in this study non similar mixed convection flow of water
based nanofluid containing one of the nanoparticles Copper (Cu), Silver (Ag), Alumina(Al2O3) with
the volume fraction range 0-4% over a semi-infinite flat plate in the presence of constant magnetic
flux density, heat source/sink, suction/injection and viscous dissipation effects were analyzed.
The Gyarmatis variational technique has been employed to solve the non-similar boundary
layer equations. The computational results are given for velocity profile temperature profile, the
coefficient of skin friction (shear stress) and local Nusselt number (heat transfer) for various values
of heat generation/absorption parameter Q, magnetic parameter and buoyancy parameter Ri. The
results obtained by the present analysis are compared with the numerical solution of Rana and
Bhargava [7] and the comparison establishes the fact that the accuracy is remarkable. The main
intention of this investigation is to justify that, the Gyarmatis variational technique is one of the
most general and exact variational techniques in solving flow and heat transfer problems.
Chandrasekar [12, 13], Chandrasekar and Baskaran [14], Chandrasekar and Kasiviswanathan [15]
already applied Gyarmatis variational technique for steady and unsteady heat transfer and boundary
layer flow problems.
2. THE GOVERNING EQUATIONS OF THE SYSTEM
The system of steady, two dimensional, incompressible and laminar boundary layer flow of
nanofluid over a semi-infinite flat plate with suction and injection is considered. The leading edge of
the plate is at x = 0, the plate is parallel to the x-axis and infinitely long downstream. In this study it
is assumed that the flow is with free stream velocity U and the ambient temperature T which are
parallel to x-axis. And the temperature of the plate is held at a constant temperature T0 which is
greater than the ambient temperature T. A uniform magnetic field of strength B0 is applied normal
to the x-axis and assumed that the induced magnetic field, the imposed electric field intensity and the
electric field due to the polarization of charges are negligible. By Boussinesq-boundary layer
approximations and with the assumption that all fluid properties are constants, the governing
boundary layer equations for the present system are as follows, see Aydin and Kaya [16]

ux + vy = 0
uux + vuy =

(1)
1

nf uyy + B02 (U u) + ( )nf g(T T )

nf

1
knf Tyy + nf (uy )2 B02u(U u) + Q0 (T T )
(Cp )nf
subject to the boundary conditions
uTx + vTy =

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

19

(2)
(3)

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

y = 0; u = 0, v = v0 , T = T0,
y ; u=U= constant, T = T

(4)

Here u, v, v0 , T, , B0 , Q0 and g are velocity of the fluid in x-direction, velocity of the fluid
in y-direction, suction/injection velocity, temperature of the fluid, electric conductivity, externally
imposed magnetic field in the y-direction, heat generation/absorption coefficient and acceleration
due to gravity respectively.
The thermophysical properties of nanofluid namely density, dynamic viscosity, thermal
diffusivity, volumetric expansion coefficient, heat capacity and thermal conductivity are denoted by
respectively nf, nf, nf, ()nf, (Cp)nf, knf and have been calculated as functions of thermophysical
properties of nanoparticle (spherical shaped) and base fluid as follows,
nf = (1 ) f + s
nf =
nf =

f
(1 ) 2.5
k nf

(5)

( C p ) nf

( ) nf = (1 )( ) f + ( ) s
( C p ) nf = (1 )( C p ) f + ( C p ) s
k nf

and

kf

k s + 2 k f 2 ( k f k s )
ks + 2k f + (k f ks )

Here is the particle volume fraction. The thermophysical properties of base fluid and nanoparticle
are distinguished by subscripts f and s respectively.
3. VARIATIONAL FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM
The purpose of this analysis is to obtain the approximate numerical solution of irreversible
thermodynamics problem by a variational technique. Gyarmati [17, 18] developed a variational
principle known as Governing Principle of Dissipative Processes (GPDP) which is given in its
universal form

( ) dV = 0.

(6)

The principle (6) describes the evaluation of linear, quasi linear and some nonlinear
irreversible processes at any instant of time and space under constraints that the balance equations

a&i + J i = i ,

(i = 1, 2,3,L f )

(7)

are satisfied. In Equation (6), is the variational symbol, is the entropy production, and are
dissipation potentials and V is the total volume of the thermodynamic system. In Equation (7), is
the mass density and a& i , Ji, i are respectively substantial variation, flux and source density of the ith
extensive transport quantity ai. The entropy production per unit volume and unit time can always
be written in the bilinear form
Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

20

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)
f

= Ji Xi 0

(8)

i =1

where Ji and Xi are fluxes and forces respectively. According to Onsagers linear theory
the fluxes are linear functions of forces, that is

[19, 20]

J i = Lik X k ,

(i = 1, 2,3,L f )

(9)

(i = 1, 2,3,L f )

(10)

k =1

or alternatively
f

Xi = Rik J k ,
k =1

The constants Lik and Rik are conductivities and resistances respectively satisfying the reciprocal
relations [19, 20]
(11)
Lik = Lki and Rik = Rki, (i, k = 1,2,3,f )
The matrices of Lik and Rik are mutually reciprocals and they are symmetric, that is
f

m =1

m =1

Lim Rmk = Lmk Rim = ik ,

(i, k = 1, 2,3,L f )

(12)

where ik is the Kronecker delta. The local dissipation potentials and are defined [19, 20] as,
f

( X, X) = (1 / 2) Lik Xi Xk 0

(13)

i , k =1

(J , J ) = (1 / 2) Rik J i J k 0

(14)

i , k =1

In the case of transport processes, the forces Xi can be generated as gradients of certain variables
and can be written as
Xi =i
(15)
The principle (6) with the help of Equations (8), (13), (14) and (15), takes the form
f
f
f

J i i (1/ 2) Lik i k (1/ 2) Rik J i J k dV = 0

(16)
i , k =1
i , k =1

V i =1
This variational principle has been already applied for various dissipative systems and was
established as the most general and exact variational principle of macroscopic continuum physics.
Many other variational principles have already been shown as partial forms of Gyarmatis principle.
The balance equations of the system play a central role in the formulation of Gyarmatis
variational principle and hence the governing boundary layer Equations (1-3) are written in the
balance form as
V = 0,
Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

(V = iu + jv)

(17)
21

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

nf (V )V + P = ( B02 )[U (i V )] + ( ) nf g (T T )i

(18)

( C p ) nf (V )T + J q = nf (u y2 ) ( B02 )(i V )[U (i V )] + Q0 (T T )

(19)

These equations represent the mass, momentum and energy balances respectively. Here i and
j being unit vectors in the directions of x and y axes respectively. In Equation (18) P denotes the
pressure tensor which can be decomposed [17] as
o

P = p + P vs

(20)
o

where p is the hydrostatic pressure, is the unit tensor and P vs is the symmetrical part of the viscous
pressure tensor, whose trace is zero.
In the study of heat transfer and fluid flow problems, the energy picture of Gyarmatis
principle is always advantageous over entropy picture. Therefore, the energy dissipation T is used
instead of entropy production . The energy dissipation for the present system is given [17] by,
T = J q (lnT / y ) P12 (u / y )

(21)
o

where Jq is the heat flux and P12 is the only component of momentum flux P vs , satisfy the
constitutive relations connecting the independent fluxes and forces as
J q = L (lnT / y )

and

P12 = Ls (u / y )

(22)

Here L = T and Ls = , where and are the thermal conductivity and viscosity
respectively. With the help of Equations (22) the dissipation potentials in energy picture are found as
follows
T = (1/ 2) L (lnT / y)2 + Ls (u / y ) 2

(23)

T = (1/ 2) R J q2 + Rs P122

(24)

where L = R1 and Ls = Rs1 .

Using Equations (21-24), Gyarmatis variational principle (6) is formulated in the following form

J q (lnT y) P12 (u y) ( L 2)(lnT y)2

dydx = 0 ,

2
2
2

(
L
2)(

y
)

(
R
2)
J

(
R
2)
P

0 0
s
q
s
12

in which l is the representative length of the surface.

l

(25)

4. METHOD OF SOLUTION
It is assumed that the trial functions for velocity and temperature fields inside the respective
boundary layers are as follows

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

22

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

u U = 2 y d1 2 y 3 d13 + y 4 d14
u = U

( y < d1 )

( y d1 )

(T T ) (T0 T ) =

(26)

= 1 2 y d 2 + 2 y 3 d 23 y 4 d 24
T = T

( y < d2 )

( y d2 )

where d1, d2 are the velocity and temperature boundary layer thicknesses which are to be determined
from the variational procedure. The trial functions (26) satisfy the following compatibility
conditions,
y = 0 ; u = 0, v = v0 , T = T0, 2T/ y2 = 0
y = d1 ; u = U = constant, u / y = 0 (smooth fit), 2u / y2 = 0
y = d2 ;T = T, T/ y = 0 (smooth fit), 2T/ y2 = 0

(27)

The smooth fit conditions u / y = 0 and T/ y = 0 correspond to P12 = 0 and Jq = 0 at

their respective edges of the boundary layer. Using the boundary conditions (27), the transverse
velocity component v is obtained from the mass balance equation (17) as
v = U (4 y 5 / 5d15 3 y 4 / 2d14 + y 2 / d12 )d1' + v0 ,

(28)

where v0 is the suction/injection velocity.

The velocity and temperature functions (26) and the boundary conditions (27) are used in the
governing boundary layer Equations (17-19) and on direct integration with respect to y with the help
of their corresponding smooth fit conditions uy = 0 and Ty = 0, the momentum flux P12 and energy
flux Jq are obtained. The momentum flux P12 remains the same for any Prandtl number Pr but the
energy flux Jq has different expressions for Pr 1 and Pr 1. When Pr 1 the expression for Jq in
the range d1 y d2 is obtained first and the expression for Jq in the range 0 y d1 is determined
subsequently by matching the expressions of the two regions at the interface. The expressions for
momentum and the energy fluxes P12 and Jq are obtained respectively as follows,

P12 / Ls =(U2d1 /nf )(4y9 45d19 +2y8 5d18 3y7 7d17 11y6 15d16 +7y5 5d15
4 4
3 3
2y3 3d13 +101/1800)+(vU
0 nf )(y d1 2y d1 +2y d1 7/10)
2
5
4
4
3
2
+(BU
0 nf )(y 5d1 y 2d1 + y d1 y+7d1 30)+U d1

nf gT
( 0 T)/nf (y5 5d24 +y4 2d23 y2 d2 +y+d15 30d24 d14 10d23
+d12 3d2 d1 2)

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

(29)

(0 y d1)

23

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

J q L = U (T0 T ) nf d2 (4 y9 9d14d25 y8 d13d25 3 y8 4d14d24 + 12 y 7 7d13d24

6
5
6
+ 4 y 3d1 d2 + y 3d14d22 12 y5 5d1 d24 4 y5 5d13d22 + 4 y3 3d1 d22 + d15 45d25
9d14 140d24 + 2d12 15d22 3 /10) + d1 (16 y9 45d15d24 + 3 y8 5d15d23
+ 3 y8 4d14d24 9 y 7 7d14d23 2 y 6 3d12d24 4 y 6 15d15d2 + 3 y 5 5d14d2
+ 6 y5 5d12d23 2 y3 3d12d2 + 49d14 180d24 18d13 35d23 + d1 3d2 )

(30)

+(v0 U )( y 4 d24 +2 y3 d23 2 y d2 + d14 d24 2d13 d23 + 2d1 d2 )

+ (U2 nf nf ( C p )nf )(16 y 7 7d18 + 8 y 6 d17 36 y5 5d16 4 y 4 d15
+ 8 y3 d14 4 y d12 + 52 35d1 ) + ( B02 U2 nf ( C p )nf )( y 9 9d18
+ y8 2d17 4 y 7 7d16 2 y 6 3d15 + 9 y5 5d14 y 4 2d13 4 y3 3d12
+ y 2 d1 37d1 315) + (Q0 (T0 T ) nf ( C p )nf )( y5 5d24 y 4 2d23 + y 2 d2
y + 3d2 10)

(0 y d1 ); ( Pr 1)

Jq L = U (T0 T )d2 nf (4y5 5d25 3y4 2d24 + y2 d22 3/10)

+ (Q0 (T0 T ) nf (Cp )nf )( y5 5d24 y4 2d23 + y2 d2 y + 3d2 10)

(31)

(d1 y d2 ); (Pr 1)
Jq L = U (T0 T ) nf d2(4 y9 9d14d25 y8 d13d25 3y8 4d14d24 +12y7 7d13d24

+ 4y6 3d1 d25 + y6 3d14d22 12y5 5d1 d24 4 y5 5d13d22 + 4y3 3d1 d22
d24 36d14 + 3d23 35d13 4d2 15d1 ) + d1(16y9 45d15d24 +3y8 5d15d23
+ 3y8 4d14d24 9y7 7d14d23 2y6 3d12d24 4y6 15d15d2 + 3y5 5d14d2
+ 6y5 5d12d23 2y3 3d12d2 + d25 45d15 9d24 140d14 + 2d22 15d12 )
+(v0 U )( y4 d24 +2y3 d23 2y d2 +1) (U2 nf nf (Cp )nf )
(16y7 7d18 8 y6 d17 + 36 y5 5d16 + 4 y4 d15 8y3 d14 + 4 y d12
7
2

8
1

6
2

7
1

5
2

6
1

4
2

5
1

3
2

(32)

4
1

16 d 7d + 8d d 36d 5d 4d d + 8d d

4d2 d12 ) + ( B02 U2 nf (Cp )nf )( y9 9d18 + y8 2d17 4y7 7d16

2y6 3d15 + 9y5 5d14 y4 2d13 4 y3 3d12 + y2 d1 + d29 9d18
d28 2d17 + 4 d27 7d16 + 2d26 3d15 9d25 5d14 + d24 2d13 + 4d23 3d12
d22 d1 ) + (Q0 (T0 T ) nf (Cp )nf )( y5 5d24 y4 2d23 + y2 d2 y + 3d2 10)
(0 y d2 ); (Pr 1)

The prime indicates differentiation with respect to x. Using the expressions of P12 and Jq
together with velocity and temperature functions (26), the variational principle (25) is formulated
independently for Pr 1 and Pr 1 cases. After performing the integration with respect to y, one can
obtain the variational principle in the following forms,
l

L1[d1 , d 2 , d1, d 2 ]dx = 0, ( Pr 1)

(33)

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

24

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)
l

L2 [d1 , d 2 , d1, d 2 ]dx = 0, ( Pr 1)

(34)

where L1, L2 are the Lagrangian densities of the principle. The variation is carried out with respect to
the independent parameters d1 and d2. These variational principles (33), (34) are found identical
when d1=d2.
The Euler-Lagrange equations corresponding to these variational parameters are
(L1,2 d1 ) (d dx)(L1,2 d1) = 0
(L1,2 d 2 ) (d dx)(L1,2 d 2 ) = 0,

(35)
( Pr 1, Pr 1)

(36)

where L1,2 represents the Lagrangian densities L1 and L2 respectively. These Equations (35) and (36)
are second order ordinary differential equations in terms of d1 and d2. The procedure for solving
Equations (35) and (36) can be considerably simplified by introducing the non-dimensional
boundary layer thicknesses d1* , d 2* and are given by
d1 = d1* f x / U

and

d 2 = d 2* f x / U

(37)

These variational principles (33) and (34) are subject to the transformations (37). The
resulting Euler-Lagrange equations are obtained as simple polynomial equations,
L1,2 d1* = 0
(38)

L1,2 d 2* = 0, ( Pr 1, Pr 1)

(39)

The coefficients of these Equations (38) and (39) dependent on the independent parameters
Pr, , Q, Ri, H and Ec where Pr = f f (Prandtl number), = B02 x U (magnetic parameter),
Q = Q0 x / U ( C p ) f (heat generation/ absorption parameter) Ri=Gr/Re2 (Richardson number),

Gr = g f (T0 T ) x3 2f (Grashof number), Re = U x f (Reynolds number), H = v0 x f U

(suction/injection parameter) and Ec = U 2 C p (T0 T ) (Eckert number).
In the present analysis heat generation and absorption are presented by Q > 0 and Q < 0
respectively and the suction and injection are represented by H < 0 and H > 0 respectively.
Equations (38) and (39) are simple coupled polynomial equations and it can be solved for any values
of Pr, , Q, Ri, H and Ec and it is found that the obtained simultaneous solutions d1* and d 2* are as
the only one set of positive real roots. After obtaining the values of d1* and d 2* for given Pr, , Q, Ri,
H and Ec the values of velocity, temperature profiles, skin friction (shear stress) and heat transfer
(local Nusselt number) are calculated with the help of the following expressions,

= y U f x

(40)

w = f x U 3 ( P12 Ls ) y =0

(41)

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

25

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)
2

and Nul = f x U (T0 T ) ( J q L ) y =0 .

(42)

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The main and important characteristics of the problem analyzed are skin friction and heat
transfer values. The energy equation has been solved for two cases d1* d 2* ( Pr 1) and
d1* d 2* ( Pr 1) . These two independent analyses yield solutions and it is matching at Pr =1. It is
found that both the analyses lead to satisfactory results in the respective ranges of Pr.
The thermophysical properties of water and nanoparticles given in Table 1 are used to
compute each case of nanofluid.
Table 1: Thermophysical properties of water and nanoparticles.

(kgm-3)

Cp (Jkg-1K-1)

k (Wm-1K-1)

10-5 (K-1)

H2O

997.1

4179

0.613

21

Al2O3

3970

765

40

0.85

Cu

8933

385

401

1.67

Ag

10500

235

429

1.89

It is customary that when a new mathematical method is applied to a problem, the obtained
results are compared with the available solution in order to determine the accuracy of the results
involved in the present technique.
In Table 2, the heat transfer values of regular fluid for various values of Pr (Pr 1 and Pr
1) when = Q = Ri = H = Ec = 0 are obtained by the present variational technique. From this table
it is evidently clear that the present results are in good agreement with Chamkha et al. [21], Aydin
and Kaya [16], Rana and Bhargava [7]. It is also observed that the heat transfer increases with the
values of Prandtl number. Since the higher Prandtl number has very low thermal conductivity, the
local Nusselt number increases rapidly. This means that the variation of the heat transfer rate is more
sensitive to the larger Prandtl number than the smaller one.
Table 2: Local Nusselt number for various values of Pr when = Q = Ri = H = Ec = =0.
Rana & Bhargava [7]
Present Results
Chamkha et al. [21]
Aydin & Kaya [16]
Pr
Nul
Nul
Nul
Nul
0.0596
0.01
0.054742313
0.051830
0.051437
0.1579
0.1
0.147754551
0.142003
0.148123
0.3319
1
0.334277544
0.332173
0.332000
0.7278
10
0.738452128
0.728310
0.727801
1.5721
100
1.599967934
1.572180
1.573141

Figs. 1-4, represent the effects of buoyancy parameter Ri on the velocity profile, temperature
profile, local Nusselt number and skin friction respectively. These results are obtained for Pr = 6.2,
Q = 0.05 corresponding to pure water and copper-water nanofluid with volume fraction = 0.04.

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

26

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

Fig. 1: Velocity profile for different values of

Ri with Pr = 6.2 and Q = 0.05 when = H=
Ec = 0.

Fig. 2: Temperature profile for different

values of Ri with Pr = 6.2 and Q = 0.05
when = H = Ec = 0.

From Figs. 1 and 2, it can be easily observed that as buoyancy force increases accordingly,
the non-dimensional velocity also increases and the temperature profile decreases. In addition, the
effect of Cu/H2O nanofluid on velocity and temperature profiles is depicted that nanofluid makes an
increase in temperature profile also it causes decrease in velocity profile as compared to pure water.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent respectively the local Nusselt number and skin friction values as a
function of magnetic parameter , for different values of Ri. From these two figures it is observed
that both local Nusselt number and skin friction increases with buoyancy parameter Ri and due to the
higher thermal conductivity of nanofluid, heat transfer as well as skin friction increase when
compared to the pure water.

Fig. 3: Variation of local Nusselt number as a

function of for different values of Ri with
Pr = 6.2 and Q = 0.05 when H = Ec = 0.

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

Fig. 4: Skin friction values as a function of

for different values of Ri with Pr = 6.2
and Q = 0.05 when H = Ec = 0.

27

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

Figs. 5-8 present the effects of three different types of nanofluids containing the
nanoparticles, namely Copper (Cu), Alumina (Al2O3) and Silver (Ag) on velocity, temperature,
Nusselt number and skin friction respectively. These results are obtained by considering Pr = 6.2, Ri
= 1, Q = 0.05 and the volume fraction as = 4%. The velocity profile increases from Al2O3 to Ag and
the trend reverses in thermal boundary layers as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 5: Velocity profile for different nanoparticles with = 0.04, Pr = 6.2, Ri = 1 and
Q = 0.05 when = H = Ec = 0.

Fig. 6: Temperature profile for different

nanoparticles with = 0.04, Pr = 6.2,
Ri = 1 and Q = 0.05 when = H = Ec = 0.

From Figs. 7 and 8, it is found that the nanofluid has higher values in heat transfer rates and
skin friction when it is compared with pure water. In addition, the heat transfer rate in Cu/H2O
nanofluid is higher than Ag/H2O nanofluid even though Ag has higher thermal conductivity than that
of Cu and also the skin friction increases from Al2O3/H2O nanofluid to Ag/H2O nanofluid.

Fig. 7: Variation of local Nusselt number as a Fig. 8: Skin friction values as a function of
a function of for different nanoparticles with for different nanoparticles with = 0.04,
= 0.04, Pr = 6.2, Ri = 1 and Q = 0.05 when
Pr = 6.2, Ri = 1 and Q = 0.05 when
H = Ec = 0.
H = Ec = 0.

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

28

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

Fig. 9: Velocity profile for different volume

Fig. 10: Temperature profile for different
fraction of Cu-Water nanofluid Pr = 6.2,
volume fraction of Cu-Water nanofluid
Ri = 1 and Q = 0.05 when = H = Ec = 0.
Pr = 6.2, Ri = 1 and Q = 0.05 when = H = Ec = 0.

In Figs. 9-12, the effects of the volume fraction () on velocity, temperature, Nusselt number
and skin friction are presented respectively. The numerical results are obtained by considering Pr =
6.2, Q = 0.05 and Ri = 1. For increasing volume fraction, the velocity profile decreases but the
increase is not in significant level. The thermal boundary layer increases with volume fraction. These
studies show that thermal conductivity of the fluid-particle system increases when volume fraction
increases. Hence heat transfer increases with volume fraction as shown in Fig. 11 and the skin
friction also follows the same trend as in Fig. 12.

Fig. 11: Variation of local Nusselt number as a Fig. 12: Skin friction values as a function
function of for different volume fraction of
of for different volume fraction of
Cu-Water nanofluid with Pr = 6.2, Ri = 1 and
Cu-Water nanofluid with Pr = 6.2, Ri = 1
Q = 0.05 when H = Ec = 0.
and Q = 0.05 when H = Ec = 0.

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

29

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

Fig. 13: Velocity profile for different values of Fig. 14: Temperature profile for different
heat source/sink parameter Q with Pr = 6.2 and values of heat source/sink parameter Q
Ri = 1 when = H = Ec = 0.
with Pr = 6.2 and Ri =1 when =H=Ec =0.

Figs. 13-16 describe the effects of heat generation or absorption (Q) on velocity, temperature,
Nusselt number and skin friction respectively. The results obtained for Pr = 6.2, Ri = 1
corresponding to pure water and copper-water nanofluid with volume fraction = 0.04. It is
observed that increasing of heat generation or adsorption (Q) increases both velocity and temperature
profiles.

Fig. 15: Variation of the local Nusselt number

as a function of for different values of heat
source/sink parameter Q with Pr = 6.2 and
Ri = 1 when H = Ec = 0.

Fig. 16: Skin friction values as a function of

for different values of heat source/sink
parameter Q with Pr = 6.2 and Ri = 1
when H = Ec = 0.

From Figs. 15 and 16, it is observed that the local Nusselt number decreases as Q increases.
Contrarily skin friction increases with the increasing values of Q. From this analysis it is evidently
clear that heat transfer rate with in the boundary layer is enhanced by a nanofluid when we compared
to the conventional fluid.
Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

30

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

6. CONCLUSION

This work deals with the effects of heat generation/absorption, buoyancy parameter, volume
fraction, different types of nanofluids, skin friction and surface heat transfer over a semi infinite flat
plate. The governing partial differential equations are reduced to simple polynomial equations whose
coefficients are of independent parameters Pr, , Q, Ri, H and Ec. These equations offer a practicing
engineer a rapid way of obtaining shear stress and heat transfer for any combinations of Pr, , Q, Ri,
H and Ec. The great advantage involved in the present technique is that the results are obtained with
high order of accuracy and the amount of calculation is certainly less when compared with more
conventional methods. Hence the practicing engineers and scientists can employ this unique
approximate technique as a powerful tool for solving boundary layer flow and heat transfer
problems. Further, the work can be extended by considering Brownian motion and thermophoresis
effects in the nanofluid flow model.
7. REFERENCES

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

7.

8.
9.
10.

11.

12.
13.

J. Buongiorno, Convective transport in Nanofluids, ASME J. Heat Transfer, 128, 2006, 240250.
W.A. Khan and I. Pop, Boundary layer flow of a nanofluid past a stretching sheet, Int. J. Heat
and Mass Transfer, 53, 2010, 2477-2483.
A.V. Kuznetsov and D.A. Nield, Natural convective boundary layer flow of a nanofluid past
a vertical plate, Int. J. Therm. Sciences, 49, 2010, 243-247.
A.V. Kuznetsov and D.A. Nield, Natural convective boundary layer flow of a nanofluid past
a vertical plate: A revised model, Int. J. Therm. Sciences, 77, 2014, 126-129.
A.J. Chamkha and A.M. Aly, MHD free convection flow of a nanofluid past a vertical plate
in the presence of heat generation or absorption effects, Chem. Eng. Comm., 198, 2011, 425441.
M.A.A. Hamad, I. Pop and A.I. Md Ismail, Magnetic field effects on free convection flow of
a nanofluid past a vertical semi-infinite flat plate, Nonlinear Analysis: Real World
Applications, 12, 2011, 1338-1346.
P. Rana and R. Bhargava, Numerical study of heat transfer enhancement in mixed convection
flow along a vertical plate with heat source/sink utilizing nanofluids, Commun. Nonlinear
Sci. Numer. Simulat., 16, 2011, 4318-4334.
Norfifah Bachok, Anuar Ishak and Ioan Pop, The boundary layers of an unsteady stagnationpoint flow in a nanofluid, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer, 55, 2012, 6499-6505.
M. Hatami, R. Nouri and D.D. Ganji, Forced convection analysis for MHD Al2O3-water
nanofluid flow over a horizontal plate, J. Mol. Liq., 187, 2013, 294-301.
K. Vajravelu, K.V. Prasad and N.G. Chiu On, The effect of variable viscosity on the flow and
heat transfer of a viscous Ag-water and Cu-water nanofluids, J. Hydrodynamics, 25, 2013, 19.
W. Ibrahim, B. Shankar and M.M. Nandeppanavar, MHD stagnation point flow and heat
transfer due to nanofluid towards a stretching sheet, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer, 56, 2013,
1-9.
M. Chandrasekar, Thermodynamical modeling of boundary layer flow with suction and
injection, ASME J. Appl. Mech., 65, 1998, 764-768.
M. Chandrasekar, Analytical study of heat transfer and boundary layer flow with suction and
injection, Heat and Mass Transfer, 40, 2003, 157-165.

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

31

editor@iaeme.com

Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection Flow and Boundary Layer Control of A Nanofluid With Heat
Generation/Absorption Effects, M.Chandrasekar, M.S.Kasiviswanathan, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.Com)

14.

15.

16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.

22.

23.

M. Chandrasekar and S. Baskaran, Modeling and analytical solution to heat transfer and
boundary layer flow with suction and injection, J. Non Equilibrium Thermodynamics, 31,
2006, 153-171.
M. Chandrasekar and M.S. Kasiviswanathan, Magneto hydrodynamic flow with viscous
dissipation effects in the presence of suction and injection, J. Theor. Appl. Mech., 53, 2015,
93-107.
O. Aydin and A. Kaya, MHD mixed convection of a viscous dissipating fluid about a
permeable vertical flat plate, Appl. Math. Model, 33, 2009, 4086-4096.
I. Gyarmati, on the governing principle of dissipative processes and its extension to nonlinear problems, Ann. Phy., 23, 1969, 353-378.
I. Gyarmati, Non equilibrium thermodynamics: Field theory and variational principles
(Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1970).
L. Onsagar, Reciprocal relations in irreversible processes-I, Phys. Rev., 37, 1931, 405-406.
L. Onsagar, Reciprocal relations in irreversible processes-II, Phys. Rev., 38, 1931 2265-2266.
A.J. Chamkha, M. Mujtaba, A. Quadri and C. Issa, Thermal radiation effects on MHD forced
convection flow adjacent to a non-isothermal wedge in the presence of a heat source or sink,
Heat and Mass Transfer, 39, 2003, 305-312.
Anand H. Agadi, M. Subhas Abel, Jagadish V. Tawade and Ishwar Maharudrappa, Mhd
Boundary Layer Flow of A Maxwell Fluid Past A Porous Stretching Sheet In Presence of
Viscous Dissipation International Journal of Mechanical Engineering & Technology
(IJMET), Volume 4, Issue 5, 2013, pp. 156 - 163, ISSN Print: 0976 6340, ISSN Online:
0976 6359.
M Subhas Abel, Pamita Laxman Rao and Jagadish V. Tawade, The Effect of Magnetic Field
on The Boundary Layer Flow over A Stretching Sheet In A Nanofluid With Convective
Boundary Condition International Journal of Mechanical Engineering & Technology
(IJMET), Volume 6, Issue 4, 2015, pp. 87 - 100, ISSN Print: 0976 6340, ISSN Online:
0976 6359.

Iaeme.com/ijmet.asp

32

editor@iaeme.com