Numerical study of unsteady MHD Couette flow and heat transfer of nanofluids in a rotating system with convective cooling

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate numerically the unsteady MHD Couette flow and heat transfer of viscous, incompressible and electrically conducting nanofluids between two parallel plates in a rotating channel. Design/methodology/approach – The nanofluid is set in motion by the combined action of moving upper plate, Coriolis force and the constant pressure gradient. The channel rotates in unison about an axis normal to the plates. The nonlinear governing equations for velocity and heat transfer are obtained and solved numerically using semi-discretization, shooting and collocation (bvp4c) techniques together with Runge-Kutta Fehlberg integration scheme. Findings – Results show that both magnetic field and rotation rate demonstrate significant effect on velocity and heat transfer profiles in the system with Cu-water nanofluid demonstrating the highest velocity and heat transfer efficiency. These numerical results are in excellent agreements with the results obtained by other methods. Practical implications – This paper provides a very useful source of information for researchers on the subject of hydromagnetic nanofluid flow in rotating systems. Originality/value – Couette flow of nanofluid in the presence of applied magnetic field in a rotating channel is investigated.