Effects of temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity on natural convection flow along a curved surface in the presence of exothermic catalytic chemical reaction

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 29;16(7):e0252485. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252485. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The natural convection boundary layer flow of a viscous incompressible fluid with temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity in the presence of exothermic catalytic chemical reaction along a curved surface has been investigated. The governing non dimensional form of equations is solved numerically by using finite difference scheme. The numerical results of velocity profile, temperature distribution and mass concentration as well as for skin friction, heat transfer rate and mass transfer rate are presented graphically and in tabular form for various values of dimensionless parameters those are generated in flow model during dimensionalization. From the obtained results, it is concluded that the exothermic catalytic chemical reactions is associated with temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity. Further, it is concluded that the body shape parameter also plays an important quantitative role for change in velocity profile, temperature field and mass concentration behavior in the presence of exothermic catalytic chemical reaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Convection*
  • Friction
  • Temperature*
  • Thermal Conductivity*
  • Viscosity

Grants and funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through research groups program under Grant No. RGP.1/46/42.