Thermal radiation effect on fractional MHD Couette Flow of Jeffrey fluid in a vertical channel with activation energy and Joule Heating

Abstract

This study investigates the consequence of thermal radiation on the fractional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Couette flow of a Jeffrey fluid in a vertical channel, incorporating the influences of activation energy and Joule heating. The mathematical model is derived using appropriate governing equations that account for the non-Newtonian behavior of the Jeffrey fluid, combined with the impacts of thermal radiation, magnetic field, and activation energy mechanisms. The classical mathematical framework has been transformed into a system of fractal fractional-order derivatives using the Caputo–Fabrizio derivative operator. To solve these systems, the finite difference technique was employed. The behavior of fluid flow fields in response to several significant parameters was analyzed and represented graphically. It is ascertained that velocity distribution upsurges as Hall current parameter rises, while a more substantial effect from the Jeffrey fluid parameter results in a decrease in the velocity field. Additionally, thermal field profiles exhibited higher values in response to increased thermal radiation and Joule heating parameters, whereas the temperature distribution showed a decline with improving in Hall current parameter values. The concentration field improved with higher activation energy parameter values, in contrast to the opposite trend observed with temperature difference and chemical reaction parameters. Furthermore, it is remarked that fractal fractional-order derivatives operator produced a more pronounced boundary layer compared to both fractional and classical models. It is ascertained that the Nusselt number showing a 15.7% improvement in thermal efficiency as thermal radiation varied from 2 to 4. These findings are important for applications in geothermal energy extraction, and biomedical engineering.