Effect of Thermal Radiation, Chemical Reaction and Viscous Dissipation on MHD Flow

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the effect of thermal radiation, chemical reaction and viscous dissipation on a magnetohydro- dynamic flow in between a pair of infinite vertical Couette channel walls. The momentum equation accounts the effects of both the thermal and the concentration buoyancy forces of the flow. The energy equation addresses the effects of the thermal radiation and viscous dissipation of the flow. Also, the concentration equation includes the effects of molecular diffusivity and chemical reaction parameters. The gray colored fluid considered in this study is a non-scattering medium and has the property of absorbing and emitting radiation. The Roseland approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. The velocity of flow transforms kinetic energy into heat energy. The increment of the velocity due to internal energy results in heating up of the fluid and consequently it causes increment of the thermal buoyancy force. The Eckert number being the ratio of the kinetic energy of the flow to the temperature difference of the channel walls is directly proportional to the thermal energy dissipation. It can be observed that increasing the Eckert number results in increasing velocity. A uniform magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the channel walls. The temperature of the moving wall is high enough due to the presence of thermal radiation. The solution of the governing equations is obtained using regular perturbation techniques. These techniques help to convert partial differential equations to a set of ordinary differential equations in dimensionless form and thus they are solved analytically. The following results are obtained: from the simulation study it is observed that the flow pattern of the fluid is affected due to the influence of the thermal radiation, the chemical reaction and viscous dissipation. The increment in the Hartmann number results in the increment of the Lorentz force but a decrement in velocity of the flow. An increment in the radiative parameter results in a decrement in temperature. An increment in the Prandtl number results in a decrement in thermal diffusivity. An increment in both the chemical reaction parameter and molecular diffusivity results in a decrement in concentration.