Lie group analysis of a Powell–Eyring nanofluid flow over a stretching surface with variable properties

Abstract

New applications of nanofluids that have enhanced thermo-physical properties have spurred new studies into the flow and heat transfer in nanofluids in the last decade. Most reported studies have considered the case where the fluid viscosity and thermal conductivity depend only on the size of nanoparticles. However, experimental data show that these properties may depend on the size of nanoparticles and the temperature. In this study, we investigate the flow and heat transfer in a Powell–Eyring nanofluid flow past a stretching surface using the nanofluid viscosity and thermal conductivity models derived from experimental data. Using Lie group analysis, the equations describing the flow and energy balance are reduced to a system of coupled differential equations. These equations are then solved using an efficient iterative spectral local linearization method. The computational results show that increasing the nanoparticle volume fraction and thermal radiation parameter enhances the temperature profiles, while an increase in the fluid parameter increased the velocity profiles. In addition, among other results, the Nusselt number increases with an increase in the temperature ratio parameter and thermal radiation. The results from this study may be useful to engineers in designing cooling devices for the enhancement of thermal systems.