Lattice Boltzmann simulation of MHD natural convection in a cavity with porous media and sinusoidal temperature distribution

Abstract

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to simulate the effect of magnetic field on the natural convection in a porous cavity. The sidewalls of the cavity are heated sinusoidally with a phase derivation, whereas the top and bottom walls are thermally insulated. Numerical simulation is performed, and the effects of the pertinent parameters, e.g., the Hartmann number, the porosity, the Darcy number, and the phase deviation, on the fluid flow and heat transfer are investigated. The results show that the heat transfer is affected by the temperature distribution on the sidewalls clearly. When the Hartmann number is 0, the maximum average Nusselt number is obtained at the phase deviation 90°. Moreover, the heat transfer enhances when the Darcy number and porosity increase, while decreases when the Hartman number increases.