Cross-Diffusion and Higher-Order Chemical Reaction Effects on Hydromagnetic Copper–Water Nanofluid Flow Over a Rotating Cone in a Porous Medium

Abstract

Spin coating of engineering components with advanced functional nanomaterials which respond to magnetic fields is growing. Motivated by exploring the fluid dynamics of such processes, a mathematical model is developed for chemically reactive Cu–H2O magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) nanofluid swirl coating flow on a revolving vertical electrically insulated cone adjacent to a porous medium under a radial static magnetic field. Heat and mass transfer is included and Dufour and Soret cross-diffusion effects are also incorporated in the model. Thermal and solutal buoyancy forces are additionally included. To simulate chemical reaction of the diffusing species encountered in manufacturing processes, a higher-order chemical reaction formulation is also featured. Via suitable scaling transformations, the governing nonlinear coupled partial differential conservation equations and associated boundary conditions are reformulated as a nonlinear ordinary differential boundary value problem. MATLAB-based shooting quadrature with a Runge–Kutta method is deployed to solve the emerging system. Concentration, temperature and velocity variations for various nondimensional flow parameters have been visualized and analyzed. In addition, key wall characteristics, i.e., radial and circumferential skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number, have also been computed. Validation with earlier studies is also included. The simulations indicate that when compared to a lower-order chemical reaction, a higher-order chemical reaction allows a greater rate of heat and mass transfer at the cone surface. Increasing Dufour (diffuso-thermal) and Soret numbers generally reduces radial and circumferential skin friction and also Nusselt number, whereas it elevates the Sherwood number. Both skin friction components are also suppressed with increasing Richardson number. Strong deceleration in the tangential and circumferential velocity components is induced with greater magnetic field.