Cu–Al2O3–H2O hybrid nanofluid flow with melting heat transfer, irreversibility analysis and nonlinear thermal radiation

We have investigated the influence of hybrid nanoparticles on various physical quantities in a water-based hybrid nanofluid involved in a steady and fully developed forced convective flow generated over a stretched surface. Nonlinear thermal radiation and melting heat transfer analysis are featured in this work. To obtain the solution of the governing equations, a standard transformation and numerical procedure are implemented. Then, a comprehensive discussion of the effects of the flow regime on several governing parameters is presented. The results indicated that increasing magnetic strength $$M$$ and nanoparticle volume fraction $$\phi_{1}$$ lead to a thicker thermal boundary layer. A similar trend takes place with increasing nonlinear thermal radiation while the reverse is noticed for Eckert number. The entropy generation rate increases with the increase in Brinkman number and Bejan number reduces with increasing Eckert number. The obtained results of this model closely match with those available in the literature as a limiting situation. It is demonstrated that hybrid nanofluids exhibit lower entropy generation rates. The results of this study are of importance in the assessment of the effect of some essential design parameters on heat transfer and, consequently, in the optimization of industrial processes.