Finite Element Analysis of MHD Unsteady Heat and Mass Transfer of Casson Nanofluid Flow over a Vertical Porous Plate Subjected to Thermal Radiation

Abstract

In this present study, finite element method is applied to analyze the magnetohydrodynamic transient heat and masstransfer of Casson nanofluid past an isothermal vertical flat plate embedded in a porous medium under the influence of thermal radiation is studied. The numerical solutions are used to carry out parametric studies. The parametric studies based on the numerical simulation reveal that the temperature as well as the concentration of the fluid increase as the Casson fluid and radiation parameters as well as Prandtl and Schmidt numbers increase. The increase in the Grashof number, radiation, buoyancy ratio and flow medium porosity parameters causes the velocity of the fluid to increase. However, the Casson fluid parameter, buoyancy ratio parameter, the Hartmann (magnetic field parameter), Schmidt and Prandtl numbers decrease as the velocity of the flow increases. The time to reach the steady state concentration, the transient velocity, Nusselt number and the local skin-friction decrease as the buoyancy ratio parameter and Schmidt number increase. Also, the steady-state temperature and velocity decrease as the buoyancy ratio parameter and Schmidt number increase. Also, the local skin friction, Nusselt and Sherwood numbers decrease as the Schmidt number increases. Though, the local Nusselt number increases as the buoyancy ratio parameter increases. It was established that near the leading edge of the plate, the local Nusselt number is not affected by bothbuoyancy ratio parameter and Schmidt number. The study provides better physical insight to the flow problem under the influence of thermal radiation and mass transfer as applied in various engineering processes.