Stability and statistical analysis on melting heat transfer in a hybrid nanofluid with thermal radiation effect

The dual solutions for the stagnation point flow in a cobalt–CeO2/kerosene hybrid nanofluid with melting heat transfer and thermal radiation are analyzed. The partial differential equations are solved by the conversion of the partial differential equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations by utilizing suitable scaling group transformations. Numerical solutions are obtained by employing the built-in function in the MATLAB software (bvp4c). Physically recoverable solutions are found employing stability analysis. The factor variables of interest (melting parameter, the nanoparticle volume fraction of cobalt and CeO2) are then further analyzed by utilizing the sensitivity analysis (based on the response surface methodology model) for heat transfer rate, as well as the skin friction coefficient. It is found that the heat transfer and skin friction tend to be significantly higher in a hybrid nanofluid due to the radiation and melting heat transfer. The lower branch is found to be unstable, whereas the upper branch is found to be stable. Also, the heat transfer rate and skin friction coefficient are found to be negatively sensitive toward the melting parameter. The model in this study can be applied for microscopic propulsion systems and the nano-electromechanical systems integrated with a nano-based system.