Unsteady magnetohydrodynamic tri-hybrid nanofluid flow past a moving wedge with viscous dissipation and Joule heating

Abstract

This study aims to boost thermal convection through careful selection and adjustment of nanomaterial volumes, focusing on the unsteady magnetohydrodynamic flow past a moving wedge with viscous dissipation and Ohmic heating in a ternary nanofluid of alumina (Al2O3), copper oxide (CuO), and copper (Cu) in water. Employing mathematical modeling and numerical analysis via MATLAB's BVP4C, it explores how discharge concentration influences flow characteristics and identifies critical conditions for single or dual solutions. Key parameters such as motion and wedge parameters, Eckert number, magnetic strength, and nanoparticle volume ratios were scrutinized for their impact on fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Results show enhanced convective thermal transfer with increased nanoparticle hybridity and volume fraction, alongside suction/injection parameter (S), unsteadiness parameter (A), Eckert number (Ec), and magnetic parameter (M), albeit decreasing with wedge angle adjustments. Stability analysis revealed the stability of the initial solution vs the instability of the secondary. Introducing a novel time variable, τ=cAt(1−ct), this research demonstrates that at λ=−4.7(a leftward wedge) with a 0.04 nanoparticle volume fraction, ternary and hybrid nanofluids significantly outperform mono nanofluid, achieving thermal efficiency gains of 25.6% and 7.5%, respectively. This foundation underscores the potential of optimized nanofluid mixtures for advanced heat transfer applications.