Numerical study of the thermally stratified hemodynamic nanofluid flow with variable viscosity over a heated wedge

We analyze the steady laminar incompressible boundary-layer magnetohydrodynamic impacts on the nanofluidic flux over a static and mobile wedge in the existence of an applied magnetic field. The Falkner–Skan wedge flow model is taken into consideration. Reynolds’ model is considered to introduce temperature-dependent viscosity. As in real life, most fluids have variable viscosity. The executive partial differential equations are converted into a set-up of ordinary differential equations by means of a similarity conversion. Numerical solutions are computed for the converted set-up of equations subjected to physical boundary conditions. The specific flow dynamics like velocity profile, streamlines, temperature behavior, and coefficient of local skin friction are graphically analyzed through numerical solutions. It is concluded that the laminar boundary-layer separation from the static and moving wedge surface is altered by the applied external electric field, and the wedge (static or moving) angle improves the surface heat flux in addition to the coefficient of skin friction. Furthermore, it is found that the methanol-based nanofluid is a less-efficient cooling agent than the water-based nanofluid; therefore, the magnitude of the Nusselt number is smaller for the water-based nanofluid. It is also observed that the addition of only 1% of these nanoparticles in a base fluid results in an enhancement of almost 200% in the thermal conductivity.