Computational Study of Micropolar Nanofluid Free Convection around a Circular Cylinder in a Porous Medium Subject to Magnetic and Electric Field Effects

The integration of nanoparticles into base fluids markedly improves their thermal conductivity, thereby enhancing heat transfer performance. This enhancement has been extensively studied within engineering and industrial contexts. Likewise, the behavior of micropolar fluids under boundary layer convection has been well-characterized. However, research on micropolar nanofluids, particularly in the context of flow around circular cylinders, remains limited. This study investigates the free convection boundary layer flow of micropolar nanofluids around a circular cylinder. The governing equations are non-dimensionalized and converted into partial differential equations using similarity transformations. These equations are subsequently solved numerically via the Keller-Box method implemented in MATLAB. The effects of nanoparticle volume fraction and micropolar fluid parameters on flow behavior are systematically examined. Results demonstrate that increases in parameters such as magnetic field strength and porous medium permeability generally lead to elevated local wall temperatures and enhanced temperature profiles, although some reductions can occur under specific conditions. These findings highlight the critical influence of nanoparticle concentration and micropolar fluid characteristics on thermal performance, offering valuable insights for advancing research in fluid mechanics and heat transfer applications.