CFD analysis of paraffin-based hybrid (Co–Au) and trihybrid (Co–Au–ZrO2) nanofluid flow through a porous medium

Abstract

Abstract Ternary hybrid nanofluids possess improved thermal characteristics, enhanced stability, better physical strength, and multi-functionality as compared to hybrid or usual nanofluids. The aim of the ongoing study is to explore the novel thermal attributes of hybrid and trihybrid nanofluids through a porous medium. Whereas the nano-composition of cobalt (Co), gold (Au), and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) make amalgamation in the paraffin (Pfin) which is a base fluid. This nano-composition of the proposed nanoparticles, specifically, subject to the base fluid Pfin has not been interpreted before. The analysis not only covers the features of trihybrid nanofluids (Co–Au–ZrO2–Pfin) but it also describes the characteristics of hybrid (Co–Au–Pfin) as well as pure nanofluids (Co–Pfin). An efficient numerical algorithm is developed for which the numerical simulations are carried out. The approximations are performed in MATLAB software using “Successive under Relaxation (SUR)” technique. A comparison, under certain limiting conditions, with the established results appraises the efficiency of the numerical code. The outcomes evidently designate that temperature raises with the change in thermal radiation and volume fraction of gold and zirconium oxide in either case of pure, hybrid, or ternary nanofluids. The concentration ϕ 3 {\phi }_{3} of ZrO2 has a significant impact on Nusselt number rather than the concentration ϕ 1 {\phi }_{1} of cobalt and ϕ 2 {\phi }_{2} of gold. It has been comparatively noticed that the ternary nanofluids (Co–Au–ZrO2–Pfin) portray embellished and improvised thermal characteristics as compared to the other two cases.