Numerical Analysis of Micropolar Flow Along a Vertical Flat Plate in a Saturated Porous Medium Under Constant Heat Flux

Abstract

The present study assesses the constant surface heat flux on a 2D steady convective flow of a micropolar fluid. The flow occurs along a vertical impermeable flat plate immersed in a fluid-saturated porous medium. Numerical methods are used to convert the governing partial differential equations to gather the locally equivalent ordinary differential equations. Local similarity solutions also visually depict the velocity distribution and microrotation (ω) in the boundary layer. Furthermore, the influence of the physical variables on the flow field is investigated. The numerical results show that the effect of porosity (ε) on the velocity profile demonstrates a negative correlation between ε and velocity. The correlation between microrotation (ω) involving the ε influence also depends on the similarity parameter (η). Although microrotation (ω) increases with porosity (ε) in the region where the fluid is near the surface, this trend changes as the flow moves further away from the surface. The dimensionless microrotation (ω) value remains constant, while rotation is not observed for the similarity parameter (η) values exceeding 4.5. The value of microrotation (ω) value is small for the similarity parameter (η) values in the interval (0 < η < 1.4). Nonetheless, the microrotation (ω) value is high for the similarity parameter (η) values up to η = 4.5. Therefore, the point at η = 1.4 represents a crucial point in the present study. The results of the present study have been validated, and the comparison with related articles showed an excellent matching between results. Outcomes from the current study are very beneficial to enhance the performance of solar panels by improving the cooling of such panels.