Heat transfer and entropy generation analysis of non-Newtonian fluid flow through vertical microchannel with convective boundary condition

The entropy generation and heat transfer characteristics of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) third-grade fluid flow through a vertical porous microchannel with a convective boundary condition are analyzed. Entropy generation due to flow of MHD non-Newtonian third-grade fluid within a microchannel and temperature-dependent viscosity is studied using the entropy generation rate and Vogel's model. The equations describing flow and heat transport along with boundary conditions are first made dimensionless using proper non-dimensional transformations and then solved numerically via the finite element method (FEM). An appropriate comparison is made with the previously published results in the literature as a limiting case of the considered problem. The comparison confirms excellent agreement. The effects of the Grashof number, the Hartmann number, the Biot number, the exponential space-and thermal-dependent heat source (ESHS/THS) parameters, and the viscous dissipation parameter on the temperature and velocity are studied and presented graphically. The entropy generation and the Bejan number are also calculated. From the comprehensive parametric study, it is recognized that the production of entropy can be improved with convective heating and viscous dissipation aspects. It is also found that the ESHS aspect dominates the THS aspect.

Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Soil Moisture on Early Growth Response of Soybean

Interactions between elevated [CO2] and soil water availability have the potential impact on crops and future food security of the world. The study was conducted to investigate vegetative growth response of soybeans under two [CO2] (380 and 800 μmol mol-1) with three soil moisture levels in controlled environment. Slow growth rate and altered crop phenology of soybeans were observed under elevated [CO2] at early stage (V-3/V-4), but showed positive physiologically response at later stage (R3) indicating adoptive mechanism of plants to high [CO2]. Elevated [CO2] decreases the number of leaves by 23% and 14% and reduces in leaf areas by 11.7% and 9.7% compared with ambient [CO2] at 29 and 44 days after planting (DAP), respectively. Adaptive mechanism of plants to high [CO2] produced 39% and 83.7% greater leaf number and leaf areas, respectively at later stage (R3) of the crop growth (59 DAP). There was a reduction in a specific leaf area (SLA) at 29 DAP (22.2%) but an increase at 44 DAP (1.4%) and 58 DAP (8.5%) under elevated [CO2]. Dry matter production of plants was increased significantly for elevated [CO2]. Increase in leaf C (<1%) and reduction in N concentration (6.0% - 9.5%) increased the C:N ratio of soybean leaves (4.4% - 12.98%) under elevated [CO2]. Elevated [CO2] with normal soil moisture condition produced a maximum number of pods (54.8% - 122.4%) and an increase in dry weight of pods (29.8% - 56.6%). Plants under elevated [CO2] produced significantly greater numbers of root nodules per plant by 114% compared with plants under ambient [CO2] at 44 DAP. These results show a direct and interactive effect of elevated [CO2] and soil moisture on plant growth that will affect not only the global food security but also nutritional security.