Hydromagnetic slip flow of water based nanofluids past a wedge with convective surface in the presence of heat generation (or) absorption

Heat transfer characteristics of a two-dimensional steady hydromagnetic slip flow of water based nanofluids (TiO2-water, Al2O3-water, and Cu-water) over a wedge with convective surface taking into account the effects of heat generation (or absorption) has been investigated numerically. The local similarity solutions are obtained by using very robust computer algebra software MATLAB and presented graphically as well as in a tabular form. The results show that nanofluid velocity is lower than the velocity of the base fluid and the existence of the nanofluid leads to the thinning of the hydrodynamic boundary layer. The rate of shear stress is significantly influenced by the surface convection parameter and the slip parameter. It is higher for nanofluids than the base fluid. The results also show that within the boundary layer the temperature of the nanofluid is higher than the temperature of the base fluid. The rate of heat transfer is found to increase with the increase of the surface convection and the slip parameters. Addition of nanoparticles to the base fluid induces the rate of heat transfer. The rate of heat transfer in the Cu-water nanofluid is found to be higher than the rate of heat transfer in the TiO2-water and Al2O3-water nanofluids. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.