article · Propulsion and Power Research
This numerical research investigates unsteady boundary layer flow driven by alternating current or direct current electric fields across a porous medium. Using a Crank-Nicolson finite difference scheme, the study incorporates fractional shear stress and the Cattaneo heat flux model to evaluate fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Findings show that higher values of the velocity fractional derivative parameter and velocity relaxation time create time delays in the velocity profile, caused by molecular collisions and momentum exchanges as the fluid establishes equilibrium. Furthermore, physical factors including medium permeability, magnetic field strength, Grashof number, and Biot number substantially influence fluid motion, heat convection, and temperature gradients across the boundary layer. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimising fluid movement and thermal control in complex porous systems.
Managing heat and fluid flow through porous materials is vital for energy extraction and high-power engineering. By modelling how electric and magnetic forces interact with complex fluid flows, this work helps researchers understand how to manipulate temperature and velocity fields. Such insights assist in refining advanced cooling systems, boosting the efficiency of geothermal reservoirs, and improving fluid control in industrial operations.
The findings are relevant to enhanced oil recovery, geothermal reservoir management, and advanced thermal cooling systems, aimed at reservoir engineers and cooling system designers. Because the study is strictly a numerical and theoretical investigation using fractional calculus, it is at an early research stage and remains distant from immediate market use, requiring experimental validation and field testing before practical adoption.
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Unsteady boundary layer flow induced by alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) electric field through a porous layer is investigated numerically. The finite difference method based on Crank-Nicolson is applied to solve the nonlinear system. The governing equations are built with fractional shear stress and the Cattaneo heat flux model, and time fractional derivatives are computed using the Caputo fractional derivative. The numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effects of varying parameters on momentum and thermal boundary layer. The results reveal that the time delay in the velocity profile occurs for larger values of both the velocity fractional derivative parameter and the velocity relaxation time due to the molecules colliding and interacting, thereby exchanging momentum to achieve a new equilibrium. Additionally, factors such as permeability, magnetic field strength (Hartmann number), Grashof number, and Biot number are shown to significantly influence fluid movement, heat convection, and temperature gradients within the boundary layer. This insight is of paramount importance in engineering applications such as enhanced oil recovery, geothermal reservoir management, and advanced cooling systems, where precise control of fluid dynamics and heat transfer is essential for optimizing performance and resource utilization.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jppr.2025.02.003
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