Influence of inclined magnetic field and chemical reaction on the entropy generation of Blasius and Sakiadis flows

This work considers the well-known laminar boundary layer flows; about a flat-plate in a uniform stream of fluid (Blasius flow) and about a moving plate in a quiescent ambient fluid (Sakiadis flow) both under a convective surface boundary condition. Entropy generation due to the effect of angle of inclination, magnetic parameter, chemical reaction parameter and Schmidt number on the flows is investigated. The third order partial differential equations governing the flows are reduced to ordinary differential equations by suitable similarity variables. The obtained equations are tackled by the Runge-Kutta fourth order method with shooting technique and the results are employed to calculate entropy generation. The solution of Blasius flow is compared with the works in literature and are found to be in excellent agreement. Entropy generation can be minimized by increasing the magnetic parameter (M), chemical reaction parameter (R) and Schmidt number (Sc) for Blasius flow. Magnetic parameter reduces entropy generation for Sakiadis flow while other parameters such as angle of inclination, chemical reaction parameter and Schmidt number boost fluid irreversibility. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of African Institute of Mathematical Sciences / Next Einstein Initiative.