Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) Induced Slip Flow of a Non-Newtonian Fluid through Circular Microchannels

Abstract

The present numerical analysis reveals the nature of non-Newtonian fluid flow through circular microchannels under slip boundary conditions. The power law has been used for the simulation of the fluid flow, which considers a steady, laminar, incompressible non-Newtonian fluid acted upon by a constant, externally applied magnetic field. The flow is axisymmetric and slip boundary conditions are applied in the near wall. A constant magnetic flux has been applied on the wall boundary to analyze the effect of magnetic field on Xanthan solution in formic acid, a type of non-Newtonian fluid having electrical conductivity. Using control volume method of finite difference scheme, a set of dimensionless governing differential equations defining the behavior of the fluid flow in the microchannel under an externally applied magnetic field, has been solved using slip boundary conditions to understand the effect of magnetic field on slip induced flow of non-Newtonian fluids. The results have depicted that the magnetic field affects both the centerline velocity and slip velocity but it is more prominent for the centerline velocities. The main objective of this research is to study the flow of non-Newtonian fluid, Xanthan through a circular microchannel and its corresponding behavior when flow boundary conditions are applied to interpret the characteristics under an externally applied magnetic field. The results obtained from this present study will find its application in the area of the flow of ferrofluids and biofluids.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Most of the bio fluids and ferrofluids are non-Newtonian in nature and it is required to control these fluids when they pass through microchannels of modern devices
 Analysis conducted to find out the flow behaviour of non-Newtonian fluids through circular microchannels when they are exposed to externally applied magnetic fields
 Slip flow occurs in the fluid flow and an externally applied magnetic field controls the flow patterns by affecting slip velocity and centerline velocity which introduces extra flow in the microchannel. The results are helpful for better understanding of the flow of ferrofluids and bio fluids through circular microchannels
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT