An empirical analysis of hybrid MHD ferrofluid unsteady flow of two-dimensional heat transfer across a porous channel

Abstract

This research investigates the heat transfer dynamics of a two-dimensional, incompressible, laminar, magnetohydrodynamics, time-dependent flow of a hybrid ferromagnetic fluid with radiation and irregular heat source/sink conditions through two porous channels. The study investigates the unique capability of ferromagnetic solid nanoparticles to improve the thermal efficiency of the host fluid, with potential applications in medicine such as drug targeting, cell separation, and magnetic resonance imaging. A mathematical model is developed as a nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE), which is subsequently converted into a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) using similarity transformations. The numerical solution is obtained using the 4th-order Runge-Kutta method implemented in Mathematica software. We analyze the impact of various nondimensional factors on the numerical results, including skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number, as well as graphical results depicting the velocity and temperature profiles of the hybrid ferrofluid. Boosting the film thickness parameter (λ) improves the heat transfer rate at the bottom of the porous channel. Raising the irregular heat source/sink parameters $(A^{*}$ and $B^{*})$ and causing opposite impacts on the heat transfer rate at the bottom porous channel. Higher the radiation (R) values, the temperature profile behaves oppositely in both porous channels. The analysis reveals that the hybrid ferrofluid exhibits a higher rate of heat transfer compared to the ferrofluid.

Keywords:

• Heat transfer
• hybrid ferrofluid
• magnetohydrodynamics
• irregular heat source/sink
• porous channel
• thermal radiation

Acknowledgment

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through project number ISP23-66.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Future direction

This work can be further extended to explore various types of non-Newtonian fluid models, including Ellis nanofluids, micropolar nanofluids, and those incorporating motile microorganisms, to optimize heat and mass transfer rates. Additionally, these models could be expanded to include tetra nanoparticles for comprehensive investigation and analysis.