Effects of viscous variation, thermal radiation, and Arrhenius reaction: The case of MHD nanofluid flow containing gyrotactic microorganisms over a convectively heated surface

Abstract

The numerical exploration of viscous variation, thermal radiation, and Arrhenius reaction modifications on an electrically conducting nanofluid flow through a convectively heated surface is scrutinized in this study. By means of well-suited similarity variables, the nonlinear coupled Ordinary Differential Equations obtained from the mathematical model governing the fluid flow are solved with MATLAB in-built bvp4c software package following shooting approach in conjunction with 4th order Runge–Kutta formula. In addition, a statistical tool called slope of linear regression through data point is introduced. A good agreement was established when the limiting case of the system of equations is compared with previous report in the literature. The results are presented in graphs and tables. It was discovered that enhancement in the viscous variation parameter boosts the velocity gradient and heat transfer rate but lowers the rate of mass transfer and density of motile microorganisms at different levels of Rdand Kr. More so, increase in chemical reaction lowers the concentration distribution but rises with thermal radiation.

Keywords

• Nanofluid
• Viscosity
• Thermal conductivity
• Thermal radiation
• Arrhenius reaction