A modification of explicit time integrator scheme for unsteady power-law nanofluid flow over the moving sheets

Abstract

This paper introduces an exponential time integrator scheme for solving partial differential equations in time, specifically addressing the scalar time-dependent convection-diffusion equation. The proposed second-order accurate scheme is demonstrated to be stable. It is applied to analyze the heat and mass transfer mixed convective flow of power-law nanofluid over flat and oscillatory sheets. The governing equations are transformed into a dimensionless set of partial differential equations, with the continuity equation discretized using a first-order scheme. The proposed time integrator scheme is employed in the time direction, complemented by second-order central discretization in the space direction for the momentum, energy, and nanoparticle volume fraction equations. Quantitative results indicate intriguing trends, indicating that an increase in the Prandtl number and thermophoresis parameter leads to a decrease in the local Nusselt number. This modified time integrator is a valuable tool for exploring the dynamics of unsteady power-law nanofluid flow over moving sheets across various scenarios. Its versatility extends to the examination of unstable fluid flows. This work improves engineering and technological design and operation in nanofluid dynamics. Improving numerical simulations’ precision and computational efficiency deepens our comprehension of fundamental physics, yielding helpful information for enhancing systems that rely on nanofluids.