Heat Transfer and Flow Analysis in Tumor-Obstructed Propagating Microchannel

Abstract

Abstract Geometric growth of tumor in microvascular networks can obstruct physiological flows, alter heat transfer, and compromise thermal regulation, ultimately affecting the tissue function and disease prognosis. This study investigates the heat transfer and fluid dynamics of tumor-induced obstructions in peristaltic microflows, a critical mechanism for fluid transport in microvascular systems. A mathematical model is developed to simulate the peristaltic pumping and heat transfer of a Newtonian fluid through a microchannel with a tumor obstruction. Governing equations based on conservation principles of mass, momentum, and energy have been considered with suitable boundary conditions. The low Reynolds number and long wavelength approximations have been employed for microchannel flow. Analytical solutions are derived for velocity and temperature fields, pressure drop, skin friction, and Nusselt number. Moreover, the entropy generation and fluid particle trajectories have been analyzed. Additionally, computational simulations are performed using matlab code for graphical results. The results reveal that larger tumors increase the flow resistance, elevating pressure gradients and disrupting thermal profiles; however, entropy generation is amplified at the tumor position. The key findings reported that the significant alterations in the flow patterns, temperature profiles, heat transfer rate, isotherms, and streamline patterns are recorded due to tumor obstructions, highlighting the importance of geometrical aspects of the tumor and thermal behavior in the cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Topics & Concepts