Numerical Simulation of the Thermally Developed Pulsatile Flow of a Hybrid Nanofluid in a Constricted Channel

Heat transfer analysis of the pulsatile flow of a hybrid nanofluid through a constricted channel under the impact of a magnetic field and thermal radiation is presented. Hybrid nanofluids form a new class of nanofluids, distinguished by the thermal properties and functional utilities for improving the heat transfer rate. The behaviors of a water-based copper nanofluid and water-based copper plus a single-wall carbon nanotube, i.e., (Cu–SWCNT/water), hybrid nanofluid over each of velocity, wall shear stress, and temperature profiles, are visualized graphically. The time-dependent governing equations of the incompressible fluid flow are transformed to the vorticity-stream function formulation and solved numerically using the finite difference method. The laminar flow simulations are carried out in 2D for simplicity as the flow profiles are assumed to vary only in the 2D plane represented by the 2D Cartesian geometry. The streamlines and vorticity contours are also shown to demonstrate the flow behviour along the channel. For comparison of the flow characteristics and heat transfer rate, the impacts of variations in Hartmann number, Strouhal number, Prandtl number, and the thermal radiation parameter are analyzed. The effects of the emerging parameters on the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are also examined. The hybrid nanofluid is demonstrated to have better thermal characteristics than the traditional one.