Physical characteristics due to activation energy of dissipative heat transfer in Reiner–Philippoff nanofluid with Darcy–Forchheimer model

Abstract

This study aims to thoroughly investigate the flow behaviour of a Reiner–Philippoff nanofluid over a nonlinearly stretching sheet, with a particular focus on the effects of viscous dissipation. The research delves into the complex interactions within the nanofluid, assessing how viscous dissipation influences heat and mass transfer rates. To model the nanofluid flow, the Darcy–Forchheimer model was employed alongside slip velocity effects. Thermal radiation was incorporated to control heat transfer, while activation energy was considered for mass transfer regulation. The Buongiorno hypothesis was used to account for thermophoresis and Brownian motion in the governing equations. Following appropriate transformations, the nonlinear ordinary differential equations were formulated and solved using the shooting method. Key parameters such as skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number were analysed in tabular form, while graphical representations highlighted the impact of variables like concentration, velocity, and temperature. The study found that considering slip velocity in combination with the Darcy–Forchheimer model significantly enhances mass transfer. A comparison with existing data demonstrated the consistency of the results. This research holds relevance for applications in acid rain, pollution migration, groundwater treatment, and related environmental processes. It has been noted that raising the porosity parameter and the Forchheimer number causes the temperature and concentration levels to drop while boosting the fluid’s velocity.