Lattice Boltzmann method for thermomagnetic convection of paramagnetic fluid in square cavity under a magnetic quadrupole field

Abstract

Numerical study was performed for a better understanding on thermomagnetic convection under magnetic quadrupole field utilizing the lattice Boltzmann method. Present problem was examined under non-gravitational and gravitational conditions for a wide range of magnetic force number from 0 to 1000. Vertical walls of the square cavity were heated differentially while the horizontal walls were assumed to be adiabatic. Distributions of the flow and temperature field were clearly illustrated. Under non-gravitational condition, the flow presents a two-cellular structure with horizontal symmetry, and the average Nusselt number increases with the augment of magnetic force number. Under gravitational condition, two-cellular structure only occurs when the magnetic field is relatively strong, and the average Nusselt number decreases at first and then rises with the enhancing magnetic field. Results show that the magnetic field intensity and the Rayleigh number both have significant influence on convective heat transfer, and the gravity plays a positive role in heat transfer under weak magnetic field while a negative one for magnetic force numbers larger than 1×105.