Computational analysis of entropy generation in mixed convection flow past a vertical wavy cone

The problem of entropy generation in mixed convection flow of incompressible viscous fluid along an isothermal vertical wavy cone is investigated numerically. Analysis is performed to investigate the impact of longitudinal surface curvature on the entropy generation phenomenon in the system. Wavy surface of the cone is a fundamental reason of similarity breaking due to which the complete problem is of non-similar nature. It is a matter of fact that in majority of the practical situations, the flow is essentially non-similar in nature. But so far the entropy generation analysis of such flows is rare in the literature. This is a fundamental reason of considering this flow for which not only the thermal transport but also the momentum transport phenomena are non-similar in nature. It is seen that the surface alteration is an easy way to manipulate the rate of entropy production. Such techniques are already in practice to enhance the thermal transport in variety of heat exchangers and are commonly known as passive techniques. An efficient numerical scheme commonly known as Keller–Box scheme is used to numerically integrate the non-similar boundary layer equations. The influence of pertinent physical parameters such as cone half angle, Richardson number, and the wavy amplitude on the entropy production is studied, and the findings regarding the minimization of the loss of useful energy have been reported. Bejan number categorizes the factor (among thermal irreversibility and viscous irreversibility) which plays a dominant role toward the production of entropy.