Influence of thermal diffusion and molecular motion on heat transfer and fluid flow of Carreau ternary hybrid nanofluid

Growing expectations for superior engine performance, fuel efficiency, and durability are fueling innovation in advanced heat transfer fluids and tribological technologies, aimed at reducing friction and wear, and enhancing overall efficiency in automotive and lubrication engineering. This study examines stagnation-point flow of ternary hybrid nanofluids around a horizontal stretching cylinder, accounting for the effects of a porous medium, Joule heating, a heat source/sink, thermal diffusion, and molecular motion on fluid velocity, heat transfer, and mass transfer. Similarity transformations are used to convert a system of partial differential equations (PDEs) into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs), which are then reduced to first-order ODEs. The MATLAB bvp4c solver is utilized to numerically resolve the converted ODEs, yielding graphical representations of velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles. The findings reveal that the Eckert and Biot numbers, magnetic field strength, heat source/sink, thermal diffusion, and molecular motion parameters collectively enhance thermal efficiency in ternary hybrid nanofluids by 26.62% over the nanofluid. Conversely, porosity and curvature parameters are found to deteriorate thermal efficiency. Furthermore, the magnetic field, porosity, and curvature parameters are observed to augment the velocity of the ternary hybrid nanofluid.