Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2019) 134: 597
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2019-13086-0

Regular Article

Entropy generation of von Karman's radiative flow with Al₂O₃ and Cu nanoparticles between two coaxial rotating disks: A finite-element analysis

Department of Applied Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India

^* e-mail: rajprsd.ismdhn1612@gmail.com

Received: 18 April 2019
Accepted: 21 August 2019
Published online: 4 December 2019

Abstract

This article explores the entropy generation of von Karman's radiative hydromagnetic nanofluid flow i.e. alumina (Al₂O₃) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles and water as base fluid between two co-axial rotating porous disks. The governing boundary layer equations of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) laminar flow between two stretchable rotating disks are formulated under the influence of a magnetic field. Using the von Karman transformation, the governing equations for fluid flow, heat and mass transfer are converted into a number of coupled differential equations. The calculations are performed by the hp-Galerkin finite-element analysis (FEA). The physical clarification of fluid velocity, temperature and concentration for several regulatory flow parameters which characterize the physics of the flow, are discussed graphically, while the physical parameters such as skin friction coefficient, the rate of heat and mass transfers in the lower and upper disks, are presented through tables. The minimal percentage errors are calculated between the previous published result and current result. The thermal radiation, nanoparticle volume fraction, magnetic field and Brinkmann number have an important influence on the irreversibility of thermal energy in terms of Bejan number. This study has numerous applications in thermal transformation mechanisms for nuclear propulsion devices and spacecraft.