Flow and heat transfer over a permeable moving wedge in a hybrid nanofluid with activation energy and binary chemical reaction

Abstract

Purpose

The analysis of boundary layers is needed to reflect the behaviour of fluid flows in current industrial processes and to improve the efficacy of products. Hence, this study aims to analyse the flow and heat transfer performance of hybrid alumina-copper/water (Al₂O₃-Cu/H₂O) nanofluid with the inclusion of activation energy and binary chemical reaction effect towards a moving wedge.

Design/methodology/approach

The multivariable differential equations with partial derivatives are converted into a specific type of ordinary differential equations by using valid similarity transformations. The reduced mathematical model is elucidated in the MATLAB system by using the bvp4c procedure. This solution method is competent in delivering multiple solutions once appropriate assumptions are supplied.

Findings

The results of multiple control parameters have been studied, and the findings are verified to provide more than one solution. The coefficient of skin friction was discovered to be increased by adding nanoparticles volume fraction from 0% to 0.5% and 1%, by almost 1.6% and 3.2%. Besides, increasing the nanoparticles volume fraction improves heat transfer efficiency gradually. The inclusion of the activation energy factor displays a downward trend in the mass transfer rates, consequently reducing the concentration profile. In contrast, the increment of the binary reaction rate greatly facilitates the augmentation of mass transfer rates. There is a significant enhancement in the heat transfer rate, approximately 13.2%, when the suction effect dominates about 10% in the boundary layer flow. Additionally, the results revealed that as the activation energy rises, the temperature and concentration profiles rise as well. It is proved that the activation energy parameter boosts the concentration of chemical species in the boundary layer. A similar pattern emerges as the wedge angle parameter increases. The current effort aims to improve the thermal analysis process, particularly in real-world applications such as geothermal reservoirs, chemical engineering and food processing, which often encountered mass transfer phenomenon followed by chemical reactions with activation energy.

Originality/value

The present results are original and new for the study of flow and heat transfer over a permeable moving wedge in a hybrid nanofluid with activation energy and binary chemical reaction.

Citation

Zainal, N.A., Nazar, R., Naganthran, K. and Pop, I. (2022), "Flow and heat transfer over a permeable moving wedge in a hybrid nanofluid with activation energy and binary chemical reaction", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 32 No. 5, pp. 1686-1705. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-04-2021-0298