Biologically inspired transport of solid spherical nanoparticles in an electrically-conducting viscoelastic fluid with heat transfer

Abstract

Bio-inspired pumping systems exploit a variety of mechanisms including peristalsis to achieve more efficient propulsion. Non-conducting, uniformly dispersed, spherical nanosized solid particles suspended in viscoelastic medium forms a complex working matrix. Electromagnetic pumping systems often employ complex working fluids. A simulation of combined electromagnetic bio-inspired propulsion is observed in the present article. Currents formation has increasingly more applications in mechanical and medical industry. A mathematical study is conducted for MHD pumping of a bi-phase nanofluid coupled with heat transfer in a planar channel. Two-phase model is employed to separately identity the effects of solid nanoparticles. Base fluid employs Jeffery?s model to address viscoelastic characteristics. The model is simplified using long wavelength and creeping flow approximations. The formulation is taken to wave frame and non-dimensionalise the equations. The resulting boundary value problem is solved analytically, and exact expressions are derived for the fluid velocity, particulate velocity, fluid-particle temperature, fluid and particulate volumetric flow rates, axial pressure gradient and pressure rise. The influence of volume fraction density, Prandtl number, Hartmann number, Eckert number, and relaxation time on flow and thermal characteristics is evaluated in detail. The axial flow is accelerated with increasing relaxation time and greater volume fraction whereas it is decelerated with greater Hartmann number. Both fluid and particulate temperature are increased with increment in Eckert and Prandtl numbers, whereas it is reduced when the volume fraction density increases. With increasing Hartmann number pressure rise is reduced