Computational analysis of Yamada–Ota and Xue models for surface tension gradient impact on radiative 3D flow of trihybrid nanofluid with Soret–Dufour effects

Abstract

This article discusses the significance of Soret and Dufour, non-uniform heat generation, activation energy on radiative 3D flow of trihybrid nanofluid over a sheet with Marangoni convection. The energy equation takes into consideration the impacts of the heat generation, while the concentration equation takes activation energy into account. This trihybrid nanofluid is based on ethylene glycol and contains nanoparticles of titanium dioxide \((Ti{O}_{2})\), cobalt ferrite \((CoF{e}_{2}O)\), and aluminum oxide \((\text{A}{l}_{2}{O}_{3})\). For the case of trihybrid nanoparticles, the Yamada–Ota and Xue nanofluid models have been modified. This model is helpful for optimizing heating and cooling systems in fields like energy systems, microelectronics, and aerospace engineering where exact control of thermal properties is essential. By adjusting the characteristics of nanofluids, it also enhances heat transfer rates, which is a critical component in the development of solar collectors and high-efficiency heat exchangers. By using the necessary similarity transformations, non-linear ODEs are obtained from the controlling PDEs. The shooting method (BVP4c) can be utilized to solve this system of highly nonlinear equations numerically. As the surface tension gradient parameter is increased, the velocity distribution, mass transfer, and heat transfer rates all increase but the performance of the thermal and solutal profiles is opposite.

Graphical abstract