Abstract
The prime purpose of this analysis is to investigate the effect of variable thermophysical properties of nanofluid on bioconvection boundary layer flow along a uniformly heated vertical cone. The governing equations with associated boundary conditions for this phenomenon are converted into a non-dimensional form via continuous transformations, which are then solved by using the implicit finite difference method. How does the phenomena of heat transfer is effected due to the temperature-dependent thermophysical properties of the fluid is the question investigated in this manuscript. Comprehensive numerical computations are carried out for a wide range of the parameters that are describing the flow characteristics. The influence of the physical parameters on the distribution of velocity and temperature profiles, wall skin friction and local rate of heat transfer is explored. Comparison with some special cases is also done and good agreement is found. It is recorded that the variable thermophysical properties of the fluid are more likely to promote the rate of heat transfer, Qw as compared to fluid having constant properties.
•Effect of variable thermophysical properties of nanofluid bioconvection along a cone is studied.•Comprehensive numerical computations are carried out for wide range of dimensionless parameters.•The results are discussed in terms of velocity and temperature profiles, wall skin friction and local rate of heat transfer.•It is found that variable thermophysical properties augment Qw as compared to constant fluid properties.