Separation time analysis of transient magnetohydrodynamic mixed convection flow of nanofluid at lower stagnation point past a sphere

Abstract

In this paper, the unsteady magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) mixed convection flow of nanofluid at lower stagnation point past a sphere is studied. Nanoparticles Cu and TiO2 with water as a base fluid are considered. The separation times of the flow as the boundary layer start to separate at the surface of the sphere are given attention. The governing boundary layer equations in the form of partial differential equations are transformed into nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations and solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme known as Keller-box method. Results of the separation times of boundary layer flow for viscous and nanofluid influenced by magnetic parameter and volume fraction are shown in tabular form and analysed. This study concluded that the separation times can be delayed by added more magnetic particles and small amount the volume fraction.