CVFEM is employed in this article to model alumina nanofluid magnetohydrodynamic flow through a permeable enclosure. Influences of Hartmann number, buoyancy, radiation parameters on nanofluid treatment were displayed. Viscosity and thermal conductivity of alumina are predicted considering Brownian motion and shape factor impacts. Results are displayed that Lorentz forces boosts the conduction mechanism. Nu(ave) enhances with reduce of Ha. Augmenting radiation parameter makes thermal boundary layer to be thinner. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.