Numerical estimations in a power-law fluid flow with thermal radiation: a complete case study

Abstract

This article is aimed to discuss a complete study of thermal radiation on the flow of power-law fluid with a truncated cone in a non-Darcy porous medium. The linear, quadratic and non-linear cases of thermal radiation are included one by one in the energy equation. Non-linear coupled partial differential equation system is converted into an ordinary differential equation system using suitable similarity transformations, and it is further solved by combining local non-similarity procedure and local linearization method. Effects of thermal radiation on non-dimensional velocities, temperatures, skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number in all three cases are displayed through plots. Skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are studied with respect to streamwise coordinate. Higher velocities and temperatures are noticed with larger values of all the three radiation parameters. This type of flow problem is extremely useful in automobile industries, solar collectors, rotating heat exchangers, etc. due to the involvement of a truncated cone.