Significance of variable electrical conductivity on unsteady EMHD flow of nanofluid over a moving wedge with time-dependent chemical reaction

Abstract

A model based on physical concepts studied the unsteady flow of viscous nanofluid over a wedge with variable electrical conductivity. Electric and magnetic fields are applied at right angles to each other and in the direction of the flow. The electrical conductivity of the medium is considered a power law function. The flow incorporates Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis. The model partial differential equations are transformed into associated nonlinear ordinary differential equations, and these equations are then numerically solved using a boundary value solver. The results of physical interest, like combined electric field and magnetic field, power law index of electrical conductivity, and Brownian motion parameter, are depicted graphically. The results obtained are validated with previous publications, and it was found an excellent agreement between these results. A grid convergence test is performed to find the optimum grid size, which helps to achieve accurate results with minimum computational time. It is observed from the simulation result that the maximum drop in surface friction under the action of Lorentz force occurs when the power law index is zero. Further nanoparticle concentration layer thickness builds up during a generative chemical reaction in the presence of a time-dependent chemical reaction with thermophoresis particle deposition.

Keywords:

• Electro magnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) flow
• variable electrical conductivity
• time-dependent chemical reaction

PACS:

• 44.10.+a
• 47.10.A-
• 47.55.pb
• 47.65.-d
• 47.10.-g

Disclosure statement

We declare that the article has not been published elsewhere and that it has not been simultaneously submitted for publication elsewhere, and we don't have any conflict of interest to declare.

Data availability statement

The authors of the study have made the data sets created or analysed during the research and which will be available to interested parties upon request through a reasonable means of communication.