Comparative study on Newtonian/non-Newtonian base fluids with magnetic/non-magnetic nanoparticles over a flat plate with uniform heat flux

In this study comparison between the magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of Newtonian/nonNewtonian base fluids with magnetic/non-magnetic nanoparticles is investigated for the first time. To analyze the flow and heat transfer, velocity slip boundary conditions are considered. Water and Sodium alginate are considered as the Newtonian and non -Newtonian base fluids respectively and then magnetite and aluminium oxide as magnetic and non-magnetic nanoparticles are added to it. Similarity transformations are employed to transform the governing partial differential equations into a system of ordinary differential equations. The transformed equations are then solved numerically by means of robust Runge-Kutta method of fourth order with shooting technique. Graphs are presented to demonstrate the effect of several emerging parameters on velocity, temperature profiles along with the local skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number, which clearly describe the flow characteristics. Compared with non-magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles have an increased effect by magnetic field. It is also observed that non -Newtonian based nanofluids have higher skin friction and Nusselt numbers than Newtonian based nanofluids. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.