Synergistic impacts of radiative flow of Maxwell fluid past a rotating disk with reactive conditions: An Arrhenius model analysis

This study presents an analysis of the hydromagnetic radiative flow of a Maxwell fluid past a rotating disk around its own axis with an angular velocity Ω0 which has enormous applications in metal casting (help to optimize the solidification and cooling of molten metals), plastic molding and aerospace engineering (cooling system of aircraft engines). The flow is constrained by boundaries that induce convection and chemical reactions described by the Arrhenius model. By applying similarity transformations, the non-linear partial differential equations, which describe the flow phenomenon, are metamorphosed into the non-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The obtained ODEs are then solved numerically using ‘Keller box method’, an efficient computational technique, by implementing the finite-difference approach. The influence of different parameters, namely magnetic field strength, radiation parameter, reaction rate constant, and convective heat transfer coefficient, on the flow and heat/mass transfer characteristics are investigated. The findings suggest that the higher activation energy leads to a slower rate of reaction. As the reaction rate decreases, the consumption of reactant molecules and the reduction in their concentration also slow down. The influence of the convective heat transfer coefficient is also examined in terms of its effect on the thermal and concentration boundary layers. As the stretching parameter increases, the Maxwell fluid undergoes greater deformation, leading to greater strain and a consequent slowing of the fluid's radial velocity. Heat transfer is enhanced by thermal radiation and convective condition at the surface of rotating disk. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the industries dealing with Maxwell fluids, enabling them to enhance process efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and develop sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.