Entropy Analysis of MHD Variable Thermal Conductivity Fluid Flow Past a Convectively Heated Stretching Cylinder

Abstract

The present study is related to entropy analysis during magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) boundary layer flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting fluid past a stretching cylinder with convective heating in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. The governing boundary layer equations in cylindrical form are simplified by means of appropriate similarity transformations. Numerical solutions with high precision are obtained using Runge-Kutta fourth order scheme with eminent shooting technique. The effects of the pertinent parameters on the fluid velocity, temperature, entropy generation number, Bejan number as well as the shear stress at the surface of the cylinder are discussed graphically and quantitatively. It is examined that due to the presence of magnetic field, entropy generation can be controlled and reduced. Bejan number is plotted to present a comparative analysis of entropy generation due to heat transfer and fluid friction. It is found that Bejan number is an increasing function of Biot number.