MHD free convection flow in a vertical porous super-hydrophobic micro-channel

Abstract

A free convective flow of an incompressible and electrically conducting fluid through a vertical micro-channel of rectangular geometry was considered. Both plates were porous and heated alternately. A transverse magnetic field was applied across the channel. One channel wall surface was no slip and the other was super-hydrophobic. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of super-hydrophobicity, magnetism and wall porosity on the main characteristics of the flow. The exact solutions of the formulated differential equations were provided. A few highlights of the results obtained include: (1) the magnetic parameter lowered the skin friction at both surfaces when either of them were heated, (2) the suction/injection parameter raised the fluid temperature when the super-hydrophobic surface (SHS) was heated and brought it down when the no slip surface (NSS) was heated, (3) a critical temperature jump coefficient was observed at which the flow rates in both cases (only SHS heated, and only NSS heated) were equal. A few application areas of the research include micro-fluidics and micro-electronics.