Entropy generation analysis in flow of thixotropic nanofluid

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address entropy generation in flow of thixotropic nonlinear radiative nanoliquid over a variable stretching surface with impacts of inclined magnetic field, Joule heating, viscous dissipation, heat source/sink and chemical reaction. Characteristics of nanofluid are described by Brownian motion and thermophoresis effect. At surface of the sheet zero mass flux and convective boundary condition are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Considered flow problem is mathematically modeled and the governing system of partial differential equations is transformed into ordinary ones by using suitable transformation. The transformed ordinary differential equations system is figure out by homotopy algorithm. Outcomes of pertinent flow variables on entropy generation, skin friction, concentration, temperature, velocity, Bejan, Sherwood and Nusselts numbers are examined in graphs. Major outcomes are concluded in final section.

Findings

Velocity profile increased versus higher estimation of material and wall thickness parameter while it decays through larger Hartmann number. Furthermore, skin friction coefficient upsurges subject to higher values of Hartmann number and magnitude of skin friction coefficient decays via materials parameters. Thermal field is an increasing function of Hartmann number, radiation parameter, thermophoresis parameter and Eckert number.

Originality/value

The authors have discussed entropy generation in flow of thixotropic nanofluid over a variable thicked surface. No such consideration is yet published in the literature.

Citation

Ijaz Khan, M., Ahmad, S., Hayat, T., Khan, M.W.A. and Alsaedi, A. (2019), "Entropy generation analysis in flow of thixotropic nanofluid", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 29 No. 12, pp. 4507-4530. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-02-2019-0156