EFFECT OF NANOPARTICLE SHAPE ON MELTING HEAT TRANSFER IN HYBRID NANOFLUID FLOW AT STAGNATION POINT

Abstract

This work examines the influence of nanoparticle geometry on the transfer of heat characteristics during melting in hybrid nanofluid flow at the stagnation point. The hybrid nanofluid, composed of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles dispersed in a water-based fluid, is analysed under varying conditions of nanoparticle geometry, including spherical, cylindrical, and platelet shapes. A mathematical model is developed by incorporating the melting boundary condition into the fluid flow and heat transfer governing equations. The utilization of similarity variables transforms the governing equations into a series of ordinary differential equations. The MATLAB bvp4c solver solves these equations numerically. The results reveal that nanoparticle shape significantly influences thermal conductivity and flow dynamics, thereby affecting heat transfer efficiency. The platelet-shaped nanoparticles produce the highest local skin friction coefficient, succeeded by cylindrical- and spherical-shaped nanoparticles. Furthermore, the interplay of melting parameters and stagnation point flow dynamics further amplifies heat transfer performance. This study provides critical insights into optimizing nanofluid designs for industrial applications requiring efficient thermal management near the stagnation point.