Effect of spatially variable magnetic field on ferrofluid flow and heat transfer considering constant heat flux boundary condition

Abstract

Ferrofluid flow and heat transfer in the presence of an external variable magnetic field is studied. The inner cylinder is maintained at uniform heat flux and the outer cylinder has constant temperature. The Control Volume based Finite Element Method (CVFEM) is applied to solve the governing equations. Combined magnetohydrodynamic and ferrohydrodynamic effects have been taken into account. The effects of magnetic number, Hartmann number, Rayleigh number and nanoparticle volume fraction on hydrothermal behavior have been examined. Results show that the Nusselt number is an increasing function of Magnetic number, Rayleigh number and nanoparticle volume fraction while it is a decreasing function of the Hartmann number. Also, it can be concluded that the enhancement in heat transfer decreases with an increase in the Rayleigh number and magnetic number but it increases with an increase in the Hartmann number.