Thermal Performance Analysis of Magnetohydrodynamics with Carbon Nanotubes on a Stretching/Shrinking Porous Sheet

Why It Matters

Understanding how magnetic fields and porous media interact with CNT nanofluids enables engineers to optimize thermal management and energy conversion processes across industrial and pharmaceutical sectors.

Key Takeaways

• Hartmann number boosts velocity and temperature
• Inverse Darcy number enhances flow, reduces viscosity effects
• SWCNT nanofluids yield higher temperatures than MWCNT
• MWCNT nanofluids produce higher velocities, lower convection
• Slip and radiation parameters significantly affect thermal profiles

Pulse Analysis

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) combined with carbon‑nanotube (CNT) nanofluids is emerging as a high‑efficiency heat‑transfer solution for sectors ranging from power generation to drug manufacturing. CNTs, especially single‑wall (SWCNT) and multi‑wall (MWCNT) varieties, possess exceptional thermal conductivity, making them ideal additives for nanofluids that operate under magnetic fields and within porous structures. By embedding a stretching or shrinking sheet in a porous medium, the study captures realistic boundary conditions encountered in heat exchangers, reactors, and cooling channels, where slip and radiation effects often dominate performance.

The analytical framework employs similarity transformations to convert the complex partial differential equations into a tractable set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Parameter sweeps reveal that increasing the Hartmann number—representing magnetic field strength—consistently accelerates the fluid and raises its temperature, while a higher inverse Darcy number, indicating more permeable media, further amplifies flow rates. Viscoelastic resistance and solid volume fraction act oppositely, damping motion. Notably, SWCNT‑based nanofluids achieve superior thermal profiles, whereas MWCNT‑based fluids favor momentum, underscoring a design trade‑off between heat convection and temperature elevation.

For practitioners, these insights translate into actionable guidelines: select SWCNT nanofluids when maximizing temperature rise is critical, such as in high‑temperature reactors, and opt for MWCNT formulations when enhanced flow velocity is required, like in rapid cooling systems. Adjusting magnetic field intensity and porous medium permeability offers additional levers to fine‑tune performance. Future research should explore experimental validation, transient effects, and integration with renewable energy technologies, positioning CNT‑enhanced MHD as a cornerstone of next‑generation thermal management solutions.