Effects of Heat Generation and Soret on Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Couette Flow with Radiation and Mass Absorption

Abstract

This article investigates the effects of heat generation and Soret on MHD Couette flow taking into consideration mass absorption and radiation influence. The governing flow in this study is modelled in the form of partial differential equations (PDEs) in dimensional form with initial and boundary conditions and the Couette fluid model is also be used to characterize the fluid behavior. Then, using suitable dimensionless quantities, the governing non-linear PDEs are transformed. Since the flow governing equations of the problem under investigation are highly complex and complicated, techniques that complement experimental and theoretical fluid dynamics by providing alternative potentially cheaper means of testing fluid flow systems is used. Therefore, the Finite Element Method (FEM) is used after discretization of the PDEs. Using graphs and tables, the effects of thermo physical parameters of engineering interests embedded in the velocity, temperature, concentration of the fluid were studied through series of numerical experiments and discussed. Furthermore, it is interesting to report that an excellent agreement was established when the results of this study was compared with those in literature, thereby authenticating and validating the accuracy of FEM as a strong tool. According to the results of this study, the actions of heat generation on the thermal and momentum boundary layers for increasing values are significant, also, increasing the Soret and thermal radiation cause a reverse trend i.e. decrease in the concentration, temperature and velocity of the fluid.