The effects of thermal radiation, thermal conductivity, and variable viscosity on ferrofluid in porous medium under magnetic field

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the two-dimensional ferrofluid flow in porous media. The effects of changes in parameters such as permeability parameter, buoyancy parameter, Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, radiation parameter, velocity slip parameter, energy dissipation parameter and viscosity parameter on the velocity and temperature profile are displayed numerically and graphically.Design/methodology/approachBy using simplification, nonlinear differential equations are converted into ordinary nonlinear equations. Modeling is done in the Cartesian coordinate system. The finite element method (FEM) and the Akbari-Ganji method (AGM) are used to solve the present problem. The finite element model determines each parameter's effect on the fluid's velocity and temperature.FindingsThe results show that if the viscosity parameter increases, the temperature of the fluid increases, but the velocity of the fluid decreases. As can be seen in the figures, by increasing the permeability parameter, a reduction in velocity and an enhancement in fluid temperature are observed. When the Reynolds number increases, an increase in fluid velocity and temperature is observed. If the speed slip parameter increases, the speed decreases, and as the energy dissipation parameter increases, the temperature also increases.Originality/valueWhen considering factors like thermal conductivity and variable viscosity in this context, they can significantly impact velocity slippage conditions. The primary objective of the present study is to assess the influence of thermal conductivity parameters and variable viscosity within a porous medium on ferrofluid behavior. This particular flow configuration is chosen due to the essential role of ferrofluids and their extensive use in engineering, industry and medicine.