Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2017) 132: 238
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2017-11498-4

Regular Article

Magnetic nanofluid natural convection in the presence of thermal radiation considering variable viscosity

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran
² Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, 38505, Cookeville, TN, USA

^* e-mail: hababzade42@students.tntech.edu

Received: 27 February 2017
Accepted: 10 April 2017
Published online: 29 May 2017

Abstract

Magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid flow and convective heat transfer are studied considering thermal radiation. Effects of magnetic field and shape of nanoparticles on viscosity and thermal conductivity of the nanofluid are taken into account. The solutions of final equations are obtained by the control volume-based finite-element method (CVFEM). Roles of shape of nanoparticles, radiation parameter, ferrofluid volume fraction, Hartmann and Rayleigh numbers are presented graphically. Results demonstrate that selecting the Platelet shape for Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles leads to maximum Nusselt number. Rate of heat transfer increases with increasing Rayleigh number and radiation parameter but it decreases with increasing Hartmann number.