Enhanced energy and mass transport dynamics in a thermo-magneto-bioconvective porous system containing oxytactic bacteria and nanoparticles: cleaner energy application

Abstract

In many industries as well as medical science, process intensification dealing with proper mixing is dictated by the thermo-fluidic transport process, and mass transfer rate. Modeling as well as controlling such a device/system comprising multiphysical consequences and multifaceted geometries is a rather challenging task. In this exercise, an effort has been taken to explore the bioconvective heat and mass transfer phenomena of Cu-water nanofluid with the suspension of motile oxytactic microorganisms in a complex wavy porous enclosure heated at the left and cooled at the right imposing the magnetic field. The resulting mathematical model is converted into nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs), which are then solved with a developed, validated computing code based on the finite volume-based technique. The investigation is conducted for various emerging parameters such as bioconvective Rayleigh number (Rb), Darcy number (Da), Darcy-Rayleigh number (Ra), Hartmann number (Ha), Peclet number (Pe), Lewis number (Le), oxygen diffusion ratio (χ), undulation numbers (n). This work focuses on the in-depth concept of flow-physics in the bioconvection environment by the wavy heated wall in a porous environment with the applied magnetic field. The various emerging parameters severely affect undergoing the thermo-magneto-bioconvective process, and reveal critical roles in the heat and mass transport dynamics. An undulation in the wavy wall raises bioconvection, heat, and mass transfer effects. The bioconvection effect is more at a low convection regime. It also showed that higher the bioconvection and mass transfer rate corresponds to lower heat transfer. It is worth remarking here that bioconvection always favors heat and mass transfer. The present investigation showed the extent of controllability of nano-bioconvective heat and mass transport phenomena. This concept and findings could be useful in the design of nano-bio-fuel cells and similar devices in sustainable and cleaner energy production.