Optimizing heat transfer exploring the impact of exponential heat source on hybrid nanofluid in converging and diverging channels with sensitivity analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study is to numerically investigate and compare the characteristics of two distinct hybrid nanofluids EG-MoS2-SiO2 and H2O-Cu-Al2O3 flowing steadily over a channel created by two non-parallel absorbent porous walls. Further, the considered fluid flow is under the influence of exponential space-based heat source, viscous dissipation, Joule heating, radiation, and external magnetic field. The nonlinear partial differential equations and subjecting boundary conditions of the flow are transformed into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations through suitable similarity transformations and are solved by combining the shooting technique with the traditional Runge–Kutta method. The consequential results are produced utilizing MATLAB software. The comparisons of the velocity profiles, temperature profiles, surface drag, and Nusselt number for both hybrid nanofluids are illustrated as graphs. The findings indicate that H2O-Cu-Al2O3 exhibits better velocity profiles, EG-MoS2-SiO2 displays enhanced temperature profiles, while H2O-Cu-Al2O3 has improved skin friction and Nusselt number. It is noteworthy to mention that numerous industries, including manufacturing, power generation, chemical processes, microelectronics, and transportation, depend on improving heat transfer coefficients. Hence, the significance and novelty of this work lie in the evaluation of optimization and sensitivity analysis of the EG-MoS2-SiO2 hybrid nanofluid to enhance heat transmission using Response Surface Methodology.