Variable Fluid Properties and Thermal Radiation Effects on Natural Convection Couette Flow through a Vertical Porous Channel

Abstract

The present article investigates natural convection Couette flow through a vertical porous channel due to combined effects of thermal radiation and variable fluid properties. The fluid considered in the model is of an optically dense with all its physical properties assumed constant except for its viscosity and thermal conductivity which are temperature dependent. The flow equations are simplified using non-linear Rosseland heat diffusion and as a consequence it resulted to high non-linearity of the flow equations. Adomian decomposition method (ADM) is used to solve the emanating equations and the influences of the essential controlling physical parameters involved are presented on graphs, tables and were discussed. In the course of investigation; it was found that both the fluid velocity and its temperature within the channel were seen to increase with growing thermal radiation parameter while the fluid’s velocity and temperature were observed to descend with increase in thermal conduction of the fluid. Similarly; the fluid velocity was found to increase with decrease in the fluid viscosity.  To validate the accuracy of the present investigation; the results obtained here in have been compared with a published work where good agreement was found.