Nanofluid Flow on a Shrinking Cylinder with Al2O3 Nanoparticles

Abstract

This study investigates the nanofluid flow towards a shrinking cylinder consisting of Al2O3 nanoparticles. Here, the flow is subjected to prescribed surface heat flux. The similarity variables are employed to gain the similarity equations. These equations are solved via the bvp4c solver. From the findings, a unique solution is found for the shrinking strength λ≥−1. Meanwhile, the dual solutions are observed when λc<λ<−1. Furthermore, the friction factor Rex1/2Cf and the heat transfer rate Rex−1/2Nux increase with the rise of Al2O3 nanoparticles φ and the curvature parameter γ. Quantitatively, the rates of heat transfer Rex−1/2Nux increase up to 3.87% when φ increases from 0 to 0.04, and 6.69% when γ increases from 0.05 to 0.2. Besides, the profiles of the temperature θ(η) and the velocity f’(η) on the first solution incline for larger γ, but their second solutions decline. Moreover, it is noticed that the streamlines are separated into two regions. Finally, it is found that the first solution is stable over time.