Heat and mass transfer analysis of Williamson nanofluids under the influence of magnetic field and Joule's heating

Abstract

This study investigates the thermally and chemically reactive behaviour of Williamson nanofluid flow over an exponentially stretched sheet subjected to magnetic fields and Joule heating. Using the bvp4c solver in MATLAB, the effects of various physical parameters such as viscous dissipation, heat sources, and magnetic fields on the temperature, velocity, and concentration profiles of the nanofluid are analysed. The results indicate that increasing the Williamson parameter enhances shear-thinning effects, leading to a decrease in velocity but an increase in temperature and mass transfer rates. As the magnetic field strength increases, Lorentz forces cause a thickening of the thermal boundary layer and a reduction in flow velocity. The study also highlights the significant roles of Brownian motion and thermophoresis in enhancing nanoparticle dispersion and thermal distribution. Additionally, higher Prandtl numbers lead to a slower temperature decay, while increased radiation parameter enhances heat absorption, thus raising the temperature profile. The findings from this study have important implications for industrial applications, including advanced thermal management, processes sensitive to magnetic fields, and chemical reactivity modeling. Furthermore, the results provide insights into optimizing nanoparticle dispersion and heat transfer efficiency for various engineering applications such as cooling systems and biomedical devices.