Assessment of nanoparticle radius and spacing effects in electrokinetic blood flow through squeezing veins via numerical investigation

Purpose This study aims to provide a three-dimensional model to analyze the characteristics of blood circulation in the calf muscle by considering a hybrid nanofluid with nanoparticles (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] and single-walled carbon nanotubes [SWCNTs]) using nanoparticle radius and interparticle spacing effects. Design/methodology/approach Thermal exchange delays are analyzed by assuming a non-Fourier heat flux model. The Poisson and Nernst–Planck equations govern the electric potential distribution and the ion movement, respectively, describing the electrokinetic impact. The computational findings are assessed by implementing the fourth-order collocation method, the bvp4c algorithm in MATLAB. Findings The findings reveal that larger nanoparticle radii and smaller interparticle distances have a significant influence. Increasing values of the squeezing number, sq, enhance the axial and lateral velocities. This enhancement is pronounced for small nanoparticle radii and large interparticle spacing. Increasing values of the squeezing number, sq, and Schmidt number, Sc, decrease the distribution of positive and negative ions. This decrease in value is more pronounced for larger interparticle spacing and smaller nanoparticle radii. Originality/value The present study generalizes the flow of a hybrid nanofluid in the calf muscle by incorporating the electroviscous effect and the Cattaneo–Christov non-Fourier heat flux model, which is new for this type of configuration. It constitutes a three-dimensional blood flow model with PTFE and SWCNT nanoparticles, where nanoparticle radius and interparticle spacing have been explicitly considered for a comprehensive description of the microscale transport phenomena.