Ferrofluid convective heat transfer under the influence of external magnetic source

Abstract

Ferrofluid convective heat transfer in a cavity with sinusoidal cold wall is examined under the influence of external magnetic source. The working fluid is Fe3O4-water nanofluid. Single phase model is used to estimate the behavior of nanofluid. Vorticity stream function formulation is utilized to eliminate pressure gradient source terms. New numerical method is chosen namely Control volume base finite element method. Influences of Rayleigh, Hartmann numbers, amplitude of the sinusoidal wall and volume fraction of Fe3O4 on hydrothermal characteristics are presented. Results indicate that temperature gradient enhances as space between cold and hot walls reduces at low buoyancy force. Lorentz forces cause the nanofluid velocity to reduce and augment the thermal boundary layer thickness. Nusselt number augments with rise of buoyancy forces but it decreases with augment of Lorentz forces.