Numerical Investigation of MHD Nanofluid Flow over an Exponentially Stretching Porous Sheet with Activation Energy, Chemical Reaction, and Non-Uniform Heat Source

Abstract

Magneto-nanofluid flows have gained increasing attention due to their wide range of applications in industrial and engineering systems, such as polymer extrusion, electronic cooling, and catalytic chemical reactors. In particular, understanding the thermal and concentration characteristics of such flows over deformable surfaces is vital for optimizing heat and mass transfer processes. Thus, the current study investigates the flow and heat transfer of a magneto-nanofluid over an exponentially stretching sheet, influenced by a transverse magnetic field and a space- and temperature-dependent heat source. The concentration field incorporates activation energy and chemical reaction kinetics, modeling reactive nanofluid behaviour. The governing partial differential equations are derived and transformed into ordinary differential equations using similarity variables, then solved numerically via the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method with a shooting technique. Findings reveal that increased magnetic intensity suppresses the hydrodynamic boundary layer, while the thermal field expands with intensified heat sources and concentration rises with higher activation energy. These results have applications in polymer manufacturing, catalytic reactors, and electronic cooling.