Magnetic cooling–oriented study of MHD ferrofluid boundary-layer flow over a shrinking sheet with

Abstract:
This paper examines the thermal and solutal behaviour of three-dimensional MHD ferrofluid
flow over a shrinking sheet, with relevance to magnetic cooling, micro-thermal devices, and
advanced heat-management systems. The model accounts for thermal radiation, viscous
dissipation, and a non-uniform heat source/sink, all of which significantly influence the
transport characteristics of ferrofluids. By applying appropriate similarity transformations,
the governing equations are reduced to a set of coupled nonlinear ODEs, which are then
solved numerically using the MATLAB bvp5c shooting method. An Engine Oil-based
ferrofluid is selected due to its practical usefulness in cooling and heat-exchange applications.
Graphical and tabulated results are presented to illustrate how various physical parameters
affect the velocity field, temperature distribution, skin-friction coefficient, and local Nusselt
number. The study shows that an increase in nanoparticle volume fraction enhances the
velocity profiles, indicating improved momentum diffusion within the ferrofluid. Conversely,
a higher Eckert number leads to reduced heat-transfer rates as a result of intensified viscous
heating. The outcomes demonstrate the potential of ferrofluid-based MHD flows for
improving the efficiency of thermal-control and magnetic cooling technologies.