Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

www.exergyonline.com

Analysis of mixed convectionRadiation interaction

in a vertical channel: Entropy generation
Shohel Mahmud , Roydon Andrew Fraser
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
Received 21 February 2002; accepted 13 May 2002

Abstract
This work examines analytically the effects of radiation heat transfer on mixed convection through a vertical channel in the presence of
transverse magnetic field. Both First and Second Laws of thermodynamics are applied to analyze the problem. Special focus is given on the
entropy generation characteristics and its dependency on the various dimensionless parameters, i.e. Hartmann number (Ha), Plank number
(Pl), Richardson number (Ri), group parameter (Br/) etc. A steady-laminar flow of an incompressible-viscous fluid is assumed through
the channel with negligible inertia effect. Fluid is further considered as an optically thin gas and electrically conducting. Governing equations
in Cartesian coordinate are solved analytically after reasonable simplifications. Expressions for velocity, temperature, local, and average
entropy generation rate are derived and presented graphically.
2002 ditions scientifiques et mdicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Thermal radiation always exits and can strongly interact
with convection in many situations of engineering interest.
The influence of radiation on natural or mixed convection
is generally stronger than that on forced convection because
of the inherent coupling between the temperature and flow
fields (see Arpaci et al. [1]). Convection in a channel (or enclosed space) in the presence of thermal radiation continues
to receive considerable attention because of its importance in
many practical applications like furnace, combustion chamber, cooling tower, rocket engine, solar collector. During
the past several decades, a number of experiments and numerical computations have been presented for describing
the phenomenon of natural (or mixed) convection in channels or enclosures. These studies aimed at clarifying the
effect on flow and temperature regime with variations of
the shape of the channel (or enclosure), the fluid properties,
transition to turbulence etc. Chawla and Chan [2] studied
the effect of radiation heat transfer on thermally developing
Poiseuille flow with scattering. The interaction of thermal
radiation with conduction and convection in thermally developing, absorbing-emitting, nongray gas flow in a circular
* Correspondence and reprints.

E-mail address: smahmud@engmail.uwaterloo.ca (S. Mahmud).

tube is investigated by Tabanfar and Modest [3]. Natural

convectionradiation interaction is studied by Yucel [4] for
square cavity, Lauriat [5] for vertical cavity and Chang [6]
for complex enclosure. Akiyama and Chong [7] numerically
analyzed the influence of gray surface radiation on convection of nonparticipating fluid in a rectangular enclosed space.
A combined free and forced convection flow of an electrically conducting fluid in a channel in the presence of
a magnetic field is also of special technical significance
because of its frequent occurrence in many industrial applications such as cooling of nuclear reactors, MHD marine
propulsion, electronic packages, micro electronic devices
etc. Some other quite promising applications are in the field
of metallurgy such as MHD stirring of molten metal and
magnetic-levitation casting. Riley [8] studied buoyancy induced flow and transport in the presence of magnetic field.
For rectangular vertical duct, Hunt [9] and Buhler [10] analyzed the fluid flow problem in magnetic field with or
without buoyancy effect. For conducting fluid, Shercliff
[11] analyzed the fluid flow characteristics in a pipe under transverse magnetic field. Alboussiere et al. [12] did an
asymptotic analysis to study the buoyancy driven convection in a uniform magnetic field. Recently, Ghaly [13] and
Chamkha et al. [14] analyzed the effect of radiation heat
transfer on flow and thermal field in the presence of magnetic field for horizontal and inclined plates.

1164-0235/02/$ see front matter 2002 ditions scientifiques et mdicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.
PII: S 1 1 6 4 - 0 2 3 5 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 7 5 - 4

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

331

Nomenclature
B0
Be
Br
CP
Eb
Ec
g
Gr
Ha
I
k
NF
NH
NS
NS,av
P
P
Pl
Pr
Rd
Re
S 
Sc
T
u
U
v

magnetic induction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wbm2

Bejan number, = NH /NS
Brinkman number, = Ec Pr
specific heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kJkg1 K 1
blackbody radiation, = T 4
Eckert number, = U02 /(CP T )
gravitational acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ms2
Grashof number, = (gTw3 )/ 2
Hartmann number, = B0 w e /()
intensity of radiation
thermal conductivity . . . . . . . . . . . . Wm1 K 1
fluid friction irreversibility
irreversibility due to heat transfer
entropy generation number, = S  /Sc
average entropy generation number
dimensionless pressure, = p/(f U02 )
modified pressure, = P Re
Plank number, = 16 T03 /k
Prandtl number, = /
radiation parameter, = Pl
Reynolds number, = U0 w/
entropy generation rate. . . . . . . . . . Wm3 K 1
characteristic entropy transfer rate,
= kT 2 /(w2 T02 )
temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C
fluid velocity in x direction . . . . . . . . . . . . ms1
dimensionless axial velocity, = u/U0
fluid velocity in y direction . . . . . . . . . . . . ms1

The foregoing discussions deal with free, forced and

mixed convection problems of different geometries with or
without radiation effect, in the presence and absence of magnetic field are very much restricted to the First Law (of
thermodynamics) analysis in the thermodynamic point of
view. The contemporary trend in the field of heat transfer
and thermal design is the Second Law (of thermodynamics)
analysis and its design-related concept of entropy generation
minimization (see Bejan [15]). This new trend is important
and, at the same time, necessary, if the heat transfer community is to contribute to a viable engineering solution to
the energy problems. Entropy generation is associated with
thermodynamic irreversibility, which is common in all types
of heat transfer processes. Different sources of irreversibility are responsible for heat transfers generation of entropy
like heat transfer across finite temperature gradient, characteristics of convective heat transfer, viscous effects, etc.
Among the three modes of heat transfer, convection and
radiation are comparatively complicated for analysis. Addition of the Second Law analysis complicates the situation
more. Bejan and his coworkers contributed some excellent
articles (see Bejan [15], Bejan [16], Bejan [17], Bejan et

V
w
x
X
y
Y

dimensionless v velocity, = v/U0

channel width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m
axial distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m
dimensionless axial distance, = x/w
transverse distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m
dimensionless transverse distance, = y/w

Greek symbols

thermal diffusivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m2 s 1
thermal expansion coefficient . . . . . . . . . . . K 1
emissivity
kinematic viscosity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m2 s1
reflectivity
density of fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kgm3
StefanBoltzmann constant
fluid electrical conductivity . . . . . . . . 1 m1
irreversibility distribution ratio, = NF /NS
solid angle
dimensionless fluid temperature
monochromatic absorption coefficient . . . . m1
dimensionless optical thickness, = w
dimensionless temperature difference, = T /T0

Subscripts and superscripts

0
L
R
av

reference value
value at left wall
value at right wall
average value

al. [18]) related to convective entropy generation. Similarly,

Arpaci and his coworkers contributed some excellent articles (see Arpaci [19], Arpaci and Selamet [20], Arpaci and
Selamet [21], Arpaci and Selamet [22], Arpaci [23], Arpaci
and Esmaeeli [24], Arpaci [25]) related to radiative entropy
generation.
In this paper, we mainly focused on the entropy generation characteristics for a mixed convection flow inside a
vertical channel with radiation heat transfer and under the
action of transverse magnetic field.

2. Problem formulation
Consider an optically thin and electrically conducting
fluid is flowing through a vertical channel of constant width
w as shown in Fig. 1. Depth of the channel (along zaxis) is assumed sufficiently long compared to the other
dimensions. Both walls are isothermal and kept at the
same or different temperatures. ILR and IRL represent
the radiative intensity of the left wall and right wall,
respectively. A transverse magnetic field of intensity B0

332

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

3. Approximation of q R /y
Most fluids of technological importance may be adequately described by the assumption of thin gas, and the
behavior of thin gases near the boundary (solid vertical
walls) is the knowledge we need for the present problem.
Because of its negligible absorption, the thin gas is usually
influenced by the geometry of the enclosures, and its behavior near a boundary depends on this geometry as well as on
the boundary itself. Based on above discussions, a simplified mathematical model can be proposed for approximating
q R /y term, according to Arpaci et al. [1], as follows

q R
= 4Eb I d
(4)
y

where , , Eb are monochromatic absorption coefficient,

solid angle and blackbody emissive power respectively.
Second term at the right-hand side of Eq. (4) represents
the effect of boundaries. Assuming hemispherical isotropy,
and replacing actual intensity with two-stream intensities
(outward and inward) as shown in Fig. 1, the second term
of the right-hand side of Eq. (4) can be written as

I d 2(ILR + IRL )
(5)

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the problem under consideration.

is acting along the positive y-axis. Modeling the flow

as Boussinesq-incompressible to take into account the
coupling between the energy and momentum equations, we
regard the density f as constant everywhere except in
the buoyancy term of momentum equation (Eq. (2)). The
magnetic Reynolds number is assumed to be small, so that
the induced magnetic field is neglected and the Hall effect
of magnetohydrodynamics is assumed to be negligible.
Correspondingly, the equations governing the steady-state
conservation of mass, momentum and energy in the channel
of Fig. 1 are
u v
+
=0
x y

(1)

u
u
1 p
+v
=
+ g(T T0 )
x
y
f x

2

e B02
u 2u
+
+
u

f
x 2 y 2

2

T
T
T
1 q R
2T
u
+v
=

+
2
2
x
y
f Cp y
x
y

(2)

Consider I0,L , I0,R , L , R , L , R are the intensity of

radiation, emissivity, reflectivity for the left wall and the
right wall. For a thin gas the absorption is negligible, and
ILR and IRL remain uniform across the thickness of the
gas between the plates (Fig. 1). Consequently ILR and
IRL become identical. Approximating each stream as a
combination of emission ( I0 ) and reflection ( I ), ILR
and IRL can be written as
ILR = L I0L + L IRL

(6a)

IRL = R I0R + R ILR

(6b)

Now solutions to Eqs. (6a) and (6b) for ILR and IRL
yield
L I0L + L R I0R
1 L R
R I0R + R L I0L
IRL =
(7)
1 L R
Substituting above intensities in Eq. (5) and noting that
+ = 1 (assuming transmissivity 0) and I = Eb ,
we get

( 1 12 )EbL + ( 1L 12 )EbR
I d 4 R 1
(8)
( R 12 ) + ( 1L 12 )
ILR =

(3)

where , e , B0 , , represent volumetric thermal expansion coefficient, fluid electrical conductivity, magnetic
flux, fluid kinematic viscosity and thermal diffusivity respectively. q R represents the radiative heat flux. Simplified
approximation for calculating the radiative heat transfer term
(q R /y) is presented in the next section before giving an
approximate analytical solution to Eqs. (1)(3).

Assuming the emissivities of the left and right walls are

identical (L = R ). Substitution of Eq. (8) into Eq. (4)
yields



q R
1
= 4 Eb (EbL + EbR )
(9)
y
2

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

In the above expression, (EbL + EbR )/2 can be replaced

by a mean emissive power Eb0 . The two terms, Eb and
Eb0 , can be further expressed as T 4 and T04 , where
is the StefanBoltzmann constant. The big difficulty arises
due to the presence of T 4 term in the energy equation,
which essentially introduces high nonlinearity and makes
impossible to get any analytical solution. Expressing T
about T0 into a Taylor series with the assumption of small
|TL TR | yields





(T T0 )n dn
4
f (T )
f (T ) = T =
n!
dT n
T =T0
n=0

12(T T0 )2 2
T0
2
3
4
24(T T0 )
24(T T0 )
T0 +
(10)
+
6
24
Truncating above series after second term and using the
definitions of Eb and Eb0 , Eqs. (9) and (10) give
= T04 + 4(T T0 )T03 +

q R
16 T03 (T T0 )
y

(11)

4. Analysis
The governing equations are put into their dimensionless
forms with appropriate scaling parameters before giving
the solutions for the velocity and temperature. Different
lengths (x and y) are scaled with the channel width w.
Velocity components (u and v) are scaled with inlet velocity
U0 . Scaling factor for pressure is U02 . Dimensionless
temperature is defined as (T T0 )/T , where T0 and
T are the reference temperature and reference temperature
difference respectively. For reference temperature, we chose
(TR + TL )/2 and (TR T0 ) is the reference temperature
difference assuming that TR > T0 . The dimensionless forms
of Eqs. (1)(3):
V
U
+
=0
X
Y
U
U
U
+V
X
Y



1 2U
P
Gr
2U
Ha2
+
U
=
+
+

X Re X2
Y 2
Re
Re2

2


1
2
Pl
U
+V
=

+
2
2
X
Y
Re Pr X
Re Pr
Y

(12)

P
2U
Gr Ri + Ha2 U
=
(15)
X
Y 2
2
Pl = 0
(16)
Y 2
where modified pressure (P ) is the product of dimensionless pressure (P ) and Reynolds number (Re). Boundary
conditions are
At Y = 0,

U =0

and = L

At Y = 1,

U =0

and = R

(17)

Expressing the square root of the product of Plank number

(Pl ) and optical thickness ( ) as radiation parameter (Rd ),
the solution to Eq. (16) for the temperature , subjected to
the thermal boundary conditions defined in Eq. (17), yields
= C1 sinh(Rd Y ) + C2 cosh(Rd Y )

(18)

where C1 and C2 are two constants of integration and can be

expressed by the following equation:

R L cosh(Rd )
C1 =
(19)
sinh(Rd )
C2 = L
With the solution for already determined, Eq. (15) can be
solved for the velocity U subjected to the no-slip boundary
conditions given in Eq. (17). Avoiding detail arithmetic
operations, the expression for the dimensionless velocity U
becomes:


C1 sinh(Rd Y ) + C2 cosh(Rd Y )
U = Gr Ri
Ha2 Rd2
1 P
(20)
+ C3 sinh(Ha Y ) + C4 cosh(Ha Y )
Ha2 X
where Richardson number (Ri) is the ratio between Grashof
number (Gr) and square of the Reynolds number (Re2 ).
Richardson number is an important parameter for mixed
convective flow, which determines the relative dominance
between buoyancy, viscous and inertia forces. The constants
C3 and C4 of Eq. (20) can be expressed as
C3 =

(13)
(14)

where Re, Pr, Gr, Ha, Pl represent Reynolds, Prandtl,

Grashof, Hartmann and Plank numbers respectively. is the
dimensionless optical thickness. The definitions of above
parameters are given in the nomenclature section. The
nonlinear nature of Eqs. (13) and (14) restricts us to solve
them for getting any closed form of analytical solutions.
Assuming V  U , and small or no dependency of U and
on the X direction, we can reduce governing Eqs. (13)
and (14) in the following forms:

333

C4 =

1
sinh(Ha)


1 P C1 sinh(Rd ) + C2 cosh(Rd )

Ha2 X
Ha2 Rd2

C4 cosh(Ha)

(21)

C2
1 P

2
2
Ha X
Ha Rd2

It is interesting to note that for same magnitudes of Hartmann number (Ha) and Radiation parameter (Rd ), the
constants C3 and C4 , become singular. This is an important
restriction (Ha = Rd ) for the present problem. The dimensionless form of average velocity along the X direction, Uav ,
can be evaluated by integrating Eq. (20) with respect to Y
(0
Y
1) in the following form:

334

Uav

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339



Gr Ri
C1 Cosh(Rd ) + C2 Sinh(Rd )
=
2
2
Rd (Ha Rd )
[C3 Cosh(Ha) + C4 Sinh(Ha)] P 1

Ha
X Ha2

C1 Gr Ri
C3

(22)

Ha Rd (Ha2 Rd2 )
+

5. Second law analysis

Convection process in a channel is inherently irreversible.
The nonequilibrium conditions arise due to the exchange of
energy and momentum, within the fluid and at solid boundaries. This causes continuous entropy generation. One part
of this entropy production is due to the heat transfer in the
direction of finite temperature gradients, which is common
almost in all types of thermal engineering applications (see
Bejan [15]). Another part of the entropy production arises
due to the fluid friction and generally termed as fluid friction irreversibility. Based on the assumptions already made,
the volumetric rate of entropy generation (Bejan [15]) can
be expressed as





k T 2 u 2

Sgen
= 2
+
(23)
T0 y
T0 y
Entropy generation rate is positive and finite as long as temperature and velocity gradients are present in the medium.
According to Bejan [15], the dimensionless form of entropy
generation rate is the entropy generation number (NS ) and
which is, by definition, equal to the ratio of actual entropy
 ) to the characteristic entropy transfer
generation rate (Sgen
rate (kT 2 /(w2 T02 )). Using the same parameters, which are
already used for scaling purpose, the dimensionless form of
Eq. (23) is:






2 Br U 2
NS =
+
(24)
Y
Y

6. Results and discussions

It is difficult to study the influence of all parameters involved in the present problem on the flow and thermal field
along with entropy generation characteristics. Therefore a
selected set of graphical results is presented in Figs. 215
that will give a good understanding of the influence of different parameters on the velocity, temperature and entropy
generation profiles. Both symmetrical (L = 1, R = 1)
and asymmetrical temperatures (L = 0, R = 1) at the
walls are considered.
6.1. Velocity distribution
Modified dimensionless velocity (U ) is calculated by dividing the velocity U by the average velocity Uav . Fig. 2
shows the variation of U as a function of Y at different
Radiation parameters (Rd ) associated with the case of constant and symmetrical wall temperatures. Velocity profiles
are symmetrical about the centerline (Y = 0.5) of the channel for each value of Rd . Increase in the value of Rd have
a tendency to slow down the movement of the fluid at the
middle portion of the channel. For Rd = 6, velocity profile
is almost flat. For Rd = 7 and 8, maximum velocity occurs
at two different locations (not at Y = 0.5). Velocity gradient (U/Y ) becomes zero at three different locations for
Rd = 7 and 8, which have zero contribution to entropy generation due to fluid flow (will discuss later in detail).
Effect of Hartmann number (Ha) on velocity profile is
shown in Fig. 3 for symmetric temperatures (L = R = 1)
at the walls. Application of the magnetic field creates a
resistive force similar to the drag force that acts in the
opposite direction of the fluid motion, thus causing the
velocity of the fluid to decrease. This is depicted in the
decreases of the U as Ha increases in Fig. 3.

In the above equation, Br and are Brinkman number

and dimensionless temperature difference (T /T0 ), respectively. The ratio Br/ is commonly termed as group
parameter. Combining Eqs. (18), (20) and (24), the dimensionless form of entropy generation number (NS ) can be
written as

2
NS = Rd2 C1 cosh(Rd Y ) + C2 sinh(Rd Y )



2
Gr Ri 
Br
+
C1 cosh(Rd Y ) + C2 sinh(Rd Y )
Ha2 Rd2


+ Ha C3 cosh(Ha Y ) + C4 sinh(Ha Y )
(25)
The first term at the right-hand side of Eq. (25) represents
the heat transfer part of entropy generation (NH ) and the
second part is the fluid friction contribution to entropy
generation (NF ).

Fig. 2. Velocity profiles at different radiation parameters with L = 1 and

R = 1.

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

335

Fig. 3. Velocity profiles at different Hartmann numbers with L = 0 and

R = 1.

Fig. 5. Temperature profile at different radiation parameters with L = 1

and R = 1.

Fig. 4. Velocity profiles at different mixed convection parameters with

L = 1 and R = 1.

Fig. 6. Temperature profile at different radiation parameters with L = 0

and R = 1.

Next the effect of the square root of the product of

Grashof (Gr) and Richardson (Ri) numbers ((Gr Ri)0.5 ) is
presented in Fig. 4 for asymmetric temperatures at the walls
(L = 0, R = 1). At (Gr Ri)0.5 = 102 and 101 , inertia
force dominates over viscous and buoyancy forces. Velocity
profiles are symmetric or almost symmetric about the
centerline of the channel. Buoyancy force starts dominating
for (Gr Ri)0.5 > 1, the location where maximum velocity
occurs shifts towards the hot wall (here right wall).
6.2. Temperature distribution
Dimensionless temperatures () are plotted as a function
of transverse distance Y in Fig. 5 for six selected values
of radiation parameters. Temperatures at the walls are kept

same (L = R = 1). For Rd = 0, temperature does not

vary along transverse distance and = 1 everywhere.
For Rd > 0, temperature profiles are symmetric about the
centerline of the channel. min occurs at Y = 0.5 and the
magnitude of min decreases with the increase of Rd . For
the symmetric temperature boundary condition (L = R ),
temperature gradient (/Y ) is zero at the channels
centerline where no entropy is generated due to finite
temperature gradient.
Effect of radiation parameter (Rd ) with asymmetric thermal boundary condition (L = 0, R = 1) on temperature
profiles is presented in Fig. 6. For Rd = 0, Eq. (16) becomes
a simple conduction equation and corresponding temperature profile is similar to a conduction temperature profile.

336

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

For Rd > 0, profiles become nonlinear. At a particular location of Y , temperature is lower for higher value of Rd .
6.3. Idle point for entropy generation
The location, where temperature gradient (/Y ) is
zero, is an idle point for temperature entropy generation.
No entropy generates at such point for zero temperature
gradient. The location of such point can be mathematically
expressed by the following equation:
Y |/Y =0



1
R L cosh(Rd ) L sinh(Rd )
=
ln
2Rd
R L cosh(Rd ) + L sinh(Rd )

(26)

It should be noted that, for a particular combination of L ,

R and Rd , idle point for temperature entropy may or may
not exist. Any solution of Eq. (26) which yields an imaginary
number, value less than 0 or greater than 1 leads to nonexisting idle point for temperature entropy. Similarly fluid
friction irreversibility becomes zero at the location of zero
velocity gradient (U/Y ). The complicated expression
of velocity (see Eq. (20)) makes it difficult to derive an
analytical expression (like Eq. (26)) for idle point for fluid
friction irreversibility. An alternative approximate solution
can be achieved by expanding velocity gradient (U/Y ) in
a series like
U 
= C1 Rdn + C2 Rdn
Y

+ C3 Han+1 + C4 Han+1 (n!)1 Y n
n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .

(27)

where
=

Rd Gr Ri

Ha2 Rd2
= 1

1, when n is 0 or odd number

=

0, when n is even number

and truncating the series after a desired order of n, set the
truncated series to zero and solve it for Y (= Y |U/Y =0 ).
The possibility of getting the exact value (or values) of
Y |U/Y =0 depends on n.
6.4. Entropy generation rate
The foregoing discussions, which mainly focused on the
flow and thermal field characteristics in terms of velocity
and temperature distribution profiles, are important because
of their (velocity and temperature) close relation to entropy
generation rate (see Eqs. (23) and (24)). Next we turn our
attention to local and global entropy generation rates and
entropy generation minimization. Four parameters (Br/ ,
Rd , Ha, (Gr Ri)0.5 ) are selected to show their influence
on local rate of entropy generation in terms of graphical
form plotted in Figs. 710. For each case, symmetric

Fig. 7. Entropy generation number at different group parameters with

L = 1 and R = 1.

wall temperatures (L = R = 1) are selected as thermal

boundary condition.
Group parameter (Br/) is an important dimensionless
number for entropy generation analysis, which determines
the relative importance of viscous effect over temperature
entropy generation. Entropy generation number (NS ) is
plotted as a function of Y at different group parameters in
Fig. 7. Entropy generation profile is symmetric about the
centerline of the channel due to the symmetric distributions
of velocity and temperature. For all group parameters, each
wall acts as a strong concentrator of entropy generation
because of the high near wall gradients of velocity and
temperature. For all Br/ , no entropy generates at the
centerline of the channel. Both velocity and temperature
gradients (U/Y and T /Y ) are zero at the centerline
leaving no contribution to the entropy generation. Due to
high viscous effect, higher Br/ shows larger NS at a
particular location of Y .
Fig. 8 presents the effect of radiation parameter (Rd )
on local entropy generation rate. Entropy generation is
characterized by the nice concave shaped and symmetric
profiles for all values of Rd . Small change in Rd causes a
large variation of NS as shown in Fig. 8.
Hartmann number (Ha) is not too much dominating
like radiation parameter. For smaller values of Ha, some
variation is observed in entropy generation profiles due to
the change in Ha as shown in Fig. 9. This variation is almost
negligible at higher values of Ha.
Finally, in Fig. 10, the effect of mixed convection parameter ((Gr Ri)0.5 ) on entropy generation number is tested.
A small range (0.1 to 5.0) of (Gr Ri)0.5 is selected. Entropy generation distribution is still characterized by concave
shaped profile. A small change in the value of (Gr Ri)0.5
causes a rapid rise of entropy generation. At a particular location of Y , NS increases with the increase of (Gr Ri)0.5 .

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

337

Fig. 8. Entropy generation number at different radiation parameters with

L = 1 and R = 1.

Fig. 10. Entropy generation number at different mixed convection parameters with L = 1 and R = 1.

Fig. 9. Entropy generation number at different Hartmann numbers with

L = 1 and R = 1.

Fig. 11. Irreversibility distribution ratio at different mixed convection

parameter with L = 0 and R = 1.

6.5. Fluid friction versus heat transfer irreversibility

and fluid friction have the same contribution for generating

entropy. In many engineering designs and optimization
problems, contribution of heat transfer entropy on overall
entropy generation rate is needed. Bejan number is another
alternative form of irreversibility, which can be expressed as

Entropy generates in a process or system due to the

presence of irreversibility. In many cases, entropy generation
number (NS ) is not sufficient for measuring fluid friction and
heat transfer contributions to entropy generation separately.
One alternative form of expressing irreversibility is the
irreversibility distribution ratio () which can be expressed
as
NF
Fluid friction irreversibility
(28)
=
=
NH
Irreversibility due to heat transfer
Heat transfer dominates for 0
< 1 and fluid friction
dominates when > 1. For = 1, both heat transfer

Be =

NH
1
=
NH + NF
1+

(29)

Bejan number ranges from 0 to 1. Accordingly, Be = 1 is

the limit at which the heat transfer irreversibility dominates,
Be = 0 is the opposite limit at which the irreversibility is
dominated by fluid friction effect, and Be = 1/2 is the case in
which the heat transfer and fluid friction entropy generation
rates are equal.

338

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

Fig. 12. Bejan number at different mixed convection parameter with

L = 0 and R = 1.

Fig. 13. Average entropy generation number at different mixed convection

parameters with L = 0 and R = 1.

Fig. 11 shows the distribution of at different (Gr

Ri)0.5 for asymmetric thermal boundary condition (L = 0,
R = 1). Near the left wall, temperature gradient is comparatively low (see Fig. 6) leaving behind a higher value
of . Opposite scenario is observed near the right wall.
Higher value of (Gr Ri)0.5 ensures larger at a particular location of Y . Bejan number is plotted in Fig. 12
as a function of Y keeping all parameters same as in
Fig. 11. For (Gr Ri)0.5 = 0, fluid friction has zero contribution ( = 0) on entropy generation. Bejan number is
maximum (= 1) and constant along the Y direction. For
(Gr Ri)0.5 > 0, Bejan number increases along the Y direction, touches the maximum (Be = 1) at Y = 0.6, then
decreases. Except Y = 0.6, an increase in the value of
(Gr Ri)0.5 decreases Bejan number. Velocity gradient becomes zero at Y = 0.6 which can be easily calculated from
Eq. (27).
6.6. Average entropy generation
From the expression of entropy generation number
(Eq. (25)), volume averaged entropy generation rate can be
evaluated using the following equation

1
NS,av =
NS d
(30)

where is the volume of the channel. Fig. 13 shows

the variation of NS,av with radiation parameter (Rd ) at
different mixed convection parameters (Gr Ri)0.5 . The
reason behind choosing parameters (Gr Ri)0.5 and Rd due
to their practical importance and remarkable contribution
on entropy generation. For a particular (Gr Ri)0.5 , NS,av
decreases with the increase of Rd , shows its minimum
([NS ]min ) at a particular value of Rd , then increases. For

Fig. 14. Minimum average entropy generation number at different mixed

convection parameters with L = 0 and R = 1.

the selected range of (Gr Ri)0.5 , NS,av profiles merge

with each other after Rd 15. Figs. 14 and 15 present
the important aspect of entropy generation minimization
(EGM). EGM criterion is the most appropriate measure
of a real systems approach to thermodynamic ideality
(see Bejan [15]) and at the same time is a method of
thermodynamic optimization of real systems. [NS ]min is
plotted as a function of (Gr Ri)0.5 in Fig. 14 at different
group parameters (Br/). For all Br/ , [NS ]min gradually
increases with (Gr Ri)0.5 . The corresponding magnitude
of radiation parameter at which entropy becomes minimum
as termed as Rd,opt which is plotted as a function of (Gr
Ri)0.5 in Fig. 15.

S. Mahmud, R.A. Fraser / Exergy, an International Journal 2 (2002) 330339

339

References

Fig. 15. Optimum radiation parameter at different mixed convection

parameters with L = 0 and R = 1.

7. Conclusions
We investigated analytically the First and Second Laws
(of thermodynamics) aspect of fluid flow and heat transfer
inside a vertical channel with transverse magnetic field. Radiation heat transfer is considered assuming the fluid as an
optically thin gas. The influence of different dimensionless
parameters, i.e., Rd , Ha, (Gr Ri)0.5 and Br/ , is tested on
the calculated velocity (U ), temperature (), entropy generation number (NS ), irreversibility distribution ratio () and
Bejan number (Be). Radiation parameter (Rd ) has a remarkable influence on velocity and temperature. Higher values of
Rd and Ha suppress velocity profile around the centerline
of the channel. Radiation parameter introduces nonlinearity in temperature profiles. An increase in the value of Rd
shifts (in a nonlinear fashion) the temperature profile away
from the conduction profile (the linear one) which occurs
at Rd = 0. Entropy generation number is characterized by
the concave shaped profile and which is symmetric about
the channel centerline for symmetrical temperature boundary condition. Radiation and mixed convection parameters
have dominating influence on entropy generation rate than
Hartmann number and group parameter. Expressions for the
idle points of entropy generation are derived which calculate location (locations) where irreversibility due to the
heat transfer and/or fluid friction become zero. Based on
entropy generation minimization, optimum radiation parameters (Rd,opt) are determined which increase with (Gr
Ri)0.5 and Br/ .

[1] V.S. Arpaci, A. Selamet, S.H. Kao, Introduction to Heat Transfer,

Prentice-Hall, New York, 2000.
[2] T.C. Chawla, S.H. Chan, Combined radiation and convection in thermally developing Poiseuille flow with scattering, J. Heat Transfer 102
(1980) 297302.
[3] S. Tabanfar, M.F. Modest, Combined radiation and convection in
absorbing, emitting, nongray gasParticulate tube flow, J. Heat
Transfer 109 (1987) 478484.
[4] A. Yucel, S. Acharya, M.L. Williams, Natural convection and radiation
in a square enclosure, Numer. Heat Transfer Part A 15 (1989) 261278.
[5] G. Lauriat, Combined radiationconvection in gray fluids enclosed in
vertical cavities, J. Heat Transfer 104 (1982) 609615.
[6] L.C. Chang, K.T. Yang, J.R. Lloyd, RadiationNatural convection interaction in two-dimensional complex enclosure, J. Heat Transfer 105
(1983) 8995.
[7] M. Akiyama, Q.P. Chong, Numerical analysis of natural convection
with surface radiation in a square enclosure, Numer. Heat Transfer Part
A 32 (1997) 419433.
[8] N. Riley, Magnetohydrodynamics free convection, J. Fluid Mech. 18
(1964) 577586.
[9] J.C.R. Hunt, Magnetohydrodynamic flow in a rectangular duct, J. Fluid
Mech. 21 (1965) 577590.
[10] L. Buhler, Laminar buoyant magnetohydrodynamic flow in a vertical
rectangular ducts, Phys. Fluids 10 (1998) 223236.
[11] J.A. Shercliff, Steady motion of conducting fluids in pipes under
transverse magnetic fields, Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 49 (1953)
136144.
[12] T. Alboussiere, J.P. Garandet, R. Moreau, Buoyancy-driven convection
with a uniform magnetic field, Part 1: Asymptotic analysis, J. Fluid
Mech. 253 (1983) 545563.
[13] A.Y. Ghaly, Radiation effects on a certain MHD free-convection flow,
Chaos Solitons & Fractals 13 (2002) 18431850.
[14] A.J. Chamkha, C. Issa, K. Khanfer, Natural convection from an
inclined plate embedded in a variable porosity porous medium due
to solar radiation, Internat. J. Therm. Sci. 41 (2002) 7381.
[15] A. Bejan, Entropy Generation Minimization, CRC, Boca Raton, NY,
1996.
[16] A. Bejan, A study of entropy generation in fundamental convective
heat transfer, J. Heat Transfer 101 (1979) 718725.
[17] A. Bejan, Second-law analysis in heat transfer and thermal design,
Adv. Heat Transfer 15 (1982) 158.
[18] A. Bejan, G. Tsatsaronis, M. Moran, Thermal Design and Optimization, Wiley, New York, 1996.
[19] V.S. Arpaci, Radiative entropy production, AIAA J. 24 (1986) 1859
1860.
[20] V.S. Arpaci, A. Selamet, Radiative entropy production, in: Proc. 8th
Int. Heat Transfer Conf., Vol. 2 (1986), pp. 729734.
[21] V.S. Arpaci, A. Selamet, Entropy production in flames, Combust.
Flame 73 (1988) 254259.
[22] V.S. Arpaci, A. Selamet, Entropy production in boundary layers,
J. Thermophys. Heat Transfer 4 (1990) 404407.
[23] V.S. Arpaci, Radiative entropy productionHeat lost to entropy, Adv.
Heat Transfer 21 (1991) 239276.
[24] V.S. Arpaci, A. Esmaeeli, Radiative deformation, J. Appl. Phys. 87
(2000) 30933100.
[25] V.S. Arpaci, Thermal deformation: From thermodynamics to heat
transfer, J. Heat Transfer 123 (2001) 821826.