Thermal analysis of Yeleswarapu mucus flowing through a complex micro-passage formed by tips of beating cilia

Abstract

Motile cilia are hair-like, tiny structures that originate in different types of biological processes. Yeleswarapu fluid model is approximated as non-Newtonian mucus, which is viscous and slippery fluid with key roles in lubrication, protection, and particle trapping in the respiratory and digestive systems. The properties of Yeleswarapu fluid with heat transfer in ciliated channels are investigated in this study. The fluid flow is characterized as laminar (low Reynold number) and incompressible (constant density) in a two-dimensional complex wavy channel generated via metachronal waves of cilia. A static frame of reference is first transformed into a dynamic frame of reference. Afterward, the system of governing equations is transformed into a non-dimensional form by using scaling factors. The half-width of the channel is substantially smaller than the wavelength of metachronal waves. Hence, the constitutive equations are simplified by the long wavelength hypothesis. The perturbation approach is employed to solve the simplified system of differential equations. This research investigates how different boundary walls and rheology affect fluid flow. Additionally, graphs of the streamlines, velocity field, temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and pressure rise are included.