Electro-osmotic flow and heat transfer of a non-Newtonian fluid in a hydrophobic microchannel with Navier slip

In this paper, we investigate the implications of electro-osmosis on electrohydrodynamic transport of a non-Newtonian fluid on a hydrophobic micro-channel by developing a suitable analytical method. Velocity-slip and temperature-jump conditions are paid due attention. An attempt has been made to examine the effects of rheological and electro-osmotic parameters on the kinematics of the fluid. The nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation governing the formation of the electrical double layer and the body force that is generated by the applied potential are accounted for in the study. Perturbation solutions are presented. In order to exhibit the applicability of the analysis, the problem of electro-osmotic flow and heat transfer of blood in an arteriole has been taken up as an illustrative example of a real-life problem. An intensive quantitative study has been made through numerical computation of the physical variables involved in the analysis, which are of special interest in the study. The computational results are presented graphically. The study reveals that the temperature of blood can be controlled by increasing/decreasing the Joule heating parameter.