Numerical simulation of fractional non-Fourier heat conduction in skin tissue

In this paper, a fractional non-Fourier heat conduction model is employed to simulate the heat diffusion through the skin tissue, as a biological system, upon immediate contact with a heat source. In order to study skin models and different boundary aspects, two problems: the three-layer skin tissue in contact with a hot water source and a single-layer skin tissue exposed suddenly to a heat source generated by a laser are investigated. In both cases, the super-diffusion fractional non-Fourier model is used to simulate the heat transfer diffused through the skin tissue. In the first case, the governing equation is solved using an implicit method, and in the second problem, its governing equation is solved using a finite volume method. In the fractional non-Fourier model, the effect of the model's essential parameters (αand τ) on the prediction of temperature distribution in skin tissue is studied as well as the effect of other parameters such as the blood rate is studied. In addition, grid study has been investigated and the most efficient and appropriate gird is obtained. The results are validated against the DPL (Dual-Phase Lag) model's results. The fractional single-phase-lag model's results indicate that this model is highly precise and encompasses all the results of the dual-phase-lag model. The results also show the high precision of the model, taking into account both the microstructure interactions and the lags. •A fractional non-Fourier heat conduction model is employed to simulate the heat diffusion through the skin tissue.•In the first case, the governing equation is solved using an implicit method, and in the second problem, its governing equation is solved using a finite volume method.•The effect of the model's essential parameters (α and τ) on prediction of temperature distribution in skin tissue is studied.•Fractional non-Fourier model is highly efficient in describing heat in such phenomena as laser therapy in medicine.