Cattaneo–LTNE porous ferroconvection

Abstract

PurposeThe onset of convection in a ferrofluid-saturated porous layer has been investigated using a local thermal nonequilibrium (LTNE) model by allowing the solid phase to transfer heat via a Cattaneo heat flux theory while the fluid phase to transfer heat via usual Fourier heat-transfer law. The flow in the porous medium is governed by modified Brinkman-extended Darcy model. The instability of the system is discussed exactly for stress-free boundaries, while for rigid-ferromagnetic/paramagnetic boundaries the results are obtained numerically using the Galerkin method. The presence of Cattaneo effect introduces oscillatory convection as the preferred mode of instability contrary to the occurrence of instability via stationary convection found in its absence. Besides, oscillatory ferroconvection is perceived when the solid thermal relaxation time parameter exceeds a threshold value and increase in its value is to hasten the oscillatory onset. The effect of different boundary conditions on the instability of the system is noted to be qualitatively same. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe investigators would follow the procedure of Straughan (2013) to obtain the expression for Rayleigh number. The Brinkman-extended Darcy model is used to describe the flow in a porous medium. The investigators have used a Galerkin method to obtain the numerical results for rigid-ferromagnetic/paramagnetic boundaries, while the instability of the system is discussed exactly for stress-free boundaries.FindingsThe Cattaneo–LTNE porous ferroconvection has been analyzed for different velocity and magnetic boundary conditions. The Brinkman-extended Darcy model is used to describe the flow in a porous medium. The effect of different types of velocity and magnetic boundary conditions on the instability of the system has been highlighted. The instability of the system is discussed exactly for stress-free boundaries, while for rigid-ferromagnetic/paramagnetic boundaries the results are obtained numerically using the Galerkin method.Originality/valueThe novelty of the present paper is to combine LTNE and second sound effects in solids on thermal instability of a ferrofluid-saturated porous layer by retaining the usual Fourier heat-transfer law in the ferrofluid. The Brinkman-extended Darcy model is used to describe the flow in a porous medium. The effect of different types of velocity and magnetic boundary conditions on the instability of the system is discussed.