A homogeneous-heterogeneous model for mixed convection in gravity-driven film flow of nanofluids

Abstract

A mathematical model is constructed to analyze the mixed convection gravity-driven film flow of nanofluids in the presence of heterogeneous-homogeneous reactions. It is considered that heterogeneous reaction taking place on the surface of plate can be described by isothermal cubic autocatalator kinetics while homogeneous reaction happening at far field is given by first order kinetics. Hysteresis bifurcations incorporating the numerical method is used to obtain the multiple solutions for the system. The uniqueness of this problem lies in the fact that the multiple solutions are possible for the cases of favorable buoyancy (σ < 0), non-buoyant (σ = 0) and unfavorable buoyancy (σ > 0) for various diffusion coefficients of reactant and autocatalyst. The observed effect of nanofluids on the stability of chemical reactions in the film flow can make this problem practically useful in the related field.