ABSTRACT
In this paper, a numerical study on free convection flow and heat transfer of Casson nanofluids over a vertical plate under the influence of thermal radiation is carried out. The governing systems of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations of the flow and heat transfer processes are converted to a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations through suitable similarity variables. The obtained ordinary differential equations are solved using finite difference method. The results of the numerical solutions are compared with the results of past works as presented in literature and good agreement was established. Also, the effects of thermal radiation; Prandtl number, nanoparticles volume-fraction, shape and type on the flow and heat transfer behaviour of various nanofluids over the flat plate are investigated. The results show that the magnitude of velocity near the plate for the Casson nanofluid parameter decreases for increasing value of the Casson parameter, while temperature increases for increase in Casson fluid parameter. Also, the thermal radiation and volume-fraction of the nanoparticles in the base fluid increase, the velocity, temperature, viscous and thermal boundary layers of the nanofluid increase. However, the velocity of the nanofluid decreases as the Prandtl number increases while the temperature of the nanofluid increases as the Prandtl number increases. The velocity of the nanofluid decreases as the volume-fraction or concentration of the nanoparticle in the base fluid increases. The study can benefit the design engineers enhancing their understanding of the phenomenon for various industrial and engineering applications.
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