MHD natural convection of ternary nanofluid in a porous medium incorporating stratification and radiation

Abstract This study explores the impact of thermal stratification on the magnetohydrodynamic flow of ethylene glycol and water‐based nano, hybrid, and ternary nanofluids past a vertically stretching cylinder within a porous medium. The ternary nanofluid, composed of silver (), cobalt ferrite (), and zinc oxide () nanoparticles, demonstrates superior thermal conductivity, heat transfer efficiency, and stability compared to conventional, and hybrid nanofluids. Governing equations are transformed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity variables and solved numerically via the 3‐stage Lobatto IIIa method in MATLAB. The novelty of this work lies in its focus on the combined influence of stratification, radiation, and natural convection on the flow characteristics of a ternary nanofluid in a porous medium, a topic largely unexplored in prior studies. The study reveals enhanced heat transfer rates and higher absolute skin friction for the ternary nanofluid, showcasing its potential for advanced thermal management applications. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing cooling systems, electronic devices, and other technologies reliant on efficient heat dissipation.