Numerical Solutions of Forced Convection Boundary Layer Flow Towards a Horizontal Permeable Stretching Sheet in ZnO–Water, ZnO–Kerosene, MgO–Water and MgO–Kerosene Nanofluids

Abstract

Nanofluid is a fluid where the nanoparticles with size less than 100 nm are dispersed in the base fluid to produce a fluid with high thermal conductivity rather than conventional fluid. Previous studies show that different nanoparticles and base fluid give different effects on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids. The aim of the study is to numerically investigate these two characteristics on a forced convection boundary layer flow towards a horizontal permeable stretching sheet in four types of nanofluids which are ZnO–water, ZnO–Kerosene, MgO–water and MgO–Kerosene. The partial differential equations of the present problem are reduced to the boundary layer equations using boundary layer approximation. The resulting equations are then reduced to the ordinary differential equations by applying similarity transformation which is then solved numerically using a Keller box method. It is found that the skin friction coefficient and heat transfer rate at the surface for MgO–water and MgO–Kerosene nanofluids are greater than ZnO–water and ZnO–Kerosene.