Soret and Dufour effects on MHD boundary layer flow of non-Newtonian Carreau fluid with mixed convective heat and mass transfer over a moving vertical plate

Abstract

In this analysis, the mixed convection boundary layer MHD flow of non-Newtonian Carreau fluid subjected to Soret and Dufour effects over a moving vertical plate is studied. The governing flow equations are converted into a set of non-linear ordinary differential equations using suitable transformations. For numerical computations, bvp4c in MATLAB package is used to solve the resulting equations. Impacts of various involved parameters, such as Weissenberg number, power-law index, magnetic parameter, thermal buoyancy parameter, solutal buoyancy parameter, thermal radiation, Dufour number, Soret number and reaction rate parameter, on velocity, temperature and concentration are shown through figures. Also, the local skin-friction coefficient, local Nusselt number and local Sherwood number are calculated and shown graphically and in tabular form for different parameters. Some important facts are revealed during the investigation. The temperature and concentration show decreasing trends with increasing values of power-law index, whereas velocity shows reverse trend and these trends are more prominent for larger values of Weissenberg number. For stronger magnetic field, velocity decreases, while the temperature and concentration increase. It was also found that for shear thinning fluid the drag coefficient exhibits an increasing character when Weissenberg number increases, but for shear thickening fluid the drag coefficient shows the contrary nature. For small values of Dufour number, heat transfer rate enhances with increasing Soret number, but for higher values of Dufour number it slightly dies down with Soret number and the mass transfer rate reacts oppositely. In addition, due to increasing chemical reaction rate, the concentration and velocity decrease.