Comparison of steady incompressible micropolar and nanofluid flow with heat and mass transfer applications

The underlying intention of this study is to oversee the flow, heat, and mass transport of nanofluid (hematite + water) and micropolar fluid flow across a bending (curved) stretching sheet. The influence of radiation, cross-diffusion, and applied magnetic fields are also investigated. The total entropy rate of the micropolar and nanofluid is discussed, and the flow equation is modeled by a curvilinear coordinate system. Appropriate similarity transformations are applied to modify the governing nonlinear partial differential (PD) equations into ordinary differential (OD) equations. The proposed system is numerically solved with a shooting procedure (bvp4c), and outcomes are explained through graphs and tables. Comparative studies of the obtained results with previously published results are discussed. The main outcomes of this study include: nanofluid has a higher temperature profile compared to micropolar fluid; micropolar fluids and nanofluids show little variation in entropy generation; the Brinkman number reduces the thermal boundary layer in both cases; increasing the chemical reaction reduces the concentration field in cases both with and without magnetic fields; and thermal radiation encourages heat and mass transfer rates of the flow in both nanofluids and micropolar fluids. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.