Entropy Generation and Statistical Analysis of MHD Hybrid Nanofluid Unsteady Squeezing Flow between Two Parallel Rotating Plates with Activation Energy

Squeezing flow is a flow where the material is squeezed out or disfigured within two parallel plates. Such flow is beneficial in various fields, for instance, in welding engineering and rheometry. The current study investigates the squeezing flow of a hybrid nanofluid (propylene glycol–water mixture combined with paraffin wax–sand) between two parallel plates with activation energy and entropy generation. The governing equations are converted into ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformations. The shooting strategy (combined with Runge–Kutta fourth order method) is applied to solve these transformed equations. The results of the conducted parametric study are explained and revealed in graphs. This study uses a statistical tool (correlation coefficient) to illustrate the impact of the relevant parameters on the engineering parameters of interest, such as the surface friction factor at both plates. This study concludes that the squeezing number intensifies the velocity profiles, and the rotating parameter decreases the fluid velocity. In addition, the magnetic field, rotation parameter, and nanoparticle volumetric parameter have a strong negative relationship with the friction factor at the lower plate. Furthermore, heat source has a strong negative relationship with heat transfer rate near the lower plate, and a strong positive correlation with the same phenomena near the upper plate. In conclusion, the current study reveals that the entropy generation is increased with the Brinkman number and reduced with the squeezing parameter. Moreover, the results of the current study verify and show a decent agreement with the data from earlier published research outcomes.