Effects of radiation and magnetic field on mixed convection flow of non-Newtonian power-law fluids across a cylinder in the presence of chemical reaction

Abstract

The effects of thermal radiation, magnetic field and chemical reaction on momentum, heat and mass transfer of mixed convection flow of a non-Newtonian power-law fluid across a horizontal cylinder are presented. Governing equations have been reduced to a set of dimensionless equations using appropriate transformations. The resulting equations are solved employing an implicit finite difference method up to the point of boundary layer separation. For the non-Newtonian fluids, the Nusselt number and the Sherwood number demonstrate completely different characteristics from the Newtonian fluids near the front stagnation point. The magnetic field parameter produces lower skin friction, heat transfer, and mass transfer, whereas these are increased for the thermo-solutal parameter and the mixed convection parameter. The skin friction and the Nusselt number are found to decrease and the Sherwood number increases with an increase of the Schmidt number and the chemical reaction parameter. Moreover, the conduction-radiation parameter generates higher skin friction and mass transfer and lower heat transfer rate.