A Mathematical Study for Laminar Boundary-Layer Flow, Heat, and Mass Transfer of a Jeffrey Non-Newtonian Fluid Past a Vertical Porous Plate

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the nonlinear steady-state boundary-layer flow, heat and mass transfer of an incompressible Jeffrey non-Newtonian fluid past a vertical porous plate. The transformed conservation equations are solved numerically subject to physically appropriate boundary conditions using a versatile, implicit finite-difference technique. The numerical code is validated with previous studies. The influence of a number of emerging non-dimensional parameters, namely, Deborah number (De), Prandtl number (Pr), ratio of relaxation to retardation times (λ), Schmidt number (Sc), and dimensionless tangential coordinate (ξ) on velocity, temperature, and concentration evolution in the boundary layer regime are examined in detail. Furthermore, the effects of these parameters on surface heat transfer rate, mass transfer rate, and local skin friction are also investigated. It is found that the velocity is reduced with increasing Deborah number whereas temperature and concentration are enhanced. Increasing λ enhances the velocity but reduces the temperature and concentration. The heat transfer rate and mass transfer rates are found to be depressed with increasing Deborah number, De, and enhanced with increasing λ. Local skin friction is found to be decreased with a rise in Deborah number whereas it is elevated with increasing λ. And an increasing Schmidt number decreases the velocity and concentration but increases temperature. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.21111