Three-Dimensional Unsteady Mixed Convection Flow of Non-Newtonian Nanofluid with Consideration of Retardation Time Effects

The advances in nanotechnology led to the development of new kinds of engineered fluids called nanofluids. Nanofluids have several industrial and engineering applications, such as solar energy systems, heat conduction processes, nuclear systems, chemical processes, etc. The motivation of the present work is to analyze and explore the thermal and dynamic behaviors of a non-Newtonian fluid flow under time retardation effects. The flow is unsteady and caused by a bidirectional, periodically moving surface. In addition to the convective heat transfer and fluid flow, the radiation and chemical reactions have also been considered. The governing equations are established based on the modified Cattaneo–Christov heat flux formulation. It was found that the bidirectional velocities oscillate periodically, and that the magnitude of the oscillation increases with the retardation time. Higher temperatures occur when the porosity parameter is increased, and lower concentrations are encountered for higher values of the concentration relaxation parameter. The current results can be applied in thermal systems, heat transfer enhancement, chemical synthesis, solar systems, power generation, medical applications, the automotive industry, process industries, refrigeration, etc.