Significance of nanoparticle diameter and inter-particle spacing in the oblique stagnation point flow over a convectively heated cylinder

Abstract

Significance: Nanofluids have several applications in industry, engineering owing to their enhanced heat transmission capabilities. It has practical applications in several fields, such as healthcare, consumer goods, manufacturing, and the production of electrical components and batteries. Purpose: Considering these important applications, this study examines the two-dimensional incompressible stagnation point flow across a stretching cylinder utilizing a water-based fluid and alumina nanoparticles. This study significantly focuses on analyzing the effects of nanoparticle size and nanoparticle radius on the nanofluid, emphasizing its novel contribution. Furthermore, the effect of linear and nonlinear thermal radiation along with thermal convection condition is imposed to examine the heat transfer characteristics. Methodology: The mathematical model is converted into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by similarity transformations, and the solutions are obtained numerically using a bvp4c technique. Findings: The effects of developing factors on the related profiles are quantitatively listed and visually through figures. The skin friction coefficient is enhanced with higher curvature and magnetic parameters. It is also noticed that the Nusselt number is larger for the heat source and Eckert number for both scenario of linear and nonlinear thermal radiation. Moreover, the velocity profiles decline against higher magnetic parameter while improving with curvature parameter for both nanoparticle radius and inter-particle spacing.