Magnetic field effect on Soret driving free convection in an inclined porous cavity saturated by a conducting binary mixture

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study analytically and numerically the effect of a transverse magnetic field on the separation of species induced in an inclined rectangular porous cavity saturated with an electrically conducting mixture. Design/methodology/approach – The porous layer is assumed homogeneous and submitted from its long sides to uniform heat fluxes and to a magnetic field of strength B. The Darcy model combined with the Boussinesq approximation are used to study the heat and solute transfer in the medium. An analytical solution is developed on the basis of the parallel flow approximation. Numerical simulations are also performed in order to validate the analytical solution. The controlling parameters of this problem are the thermal Rayleigh number, the inclination of the enclosure, the separation parameter, the Hartmann number and the Lewis number. Findings – For given values of the thermal Rayleigh number, the inclination of the enclosure, the separation parameter and the Lewis number, there is an optimal magnetic field which leads to a maximum of separation. At relatively high Rayleigh numbers, where convection destroys the separation process, it is possible, with an optimal choice of the Hartman number, to recover a good level of separation. Research limitations/implications – Since the problem is governed by several parameters (five parameters), only the Darcy model was used in this study instead of the Darcy-Brinkman extended model even if the latter model allows to cover the pure fluid and Darcy porous media as limiting cases. Practical implications – In separation experiments, it is very difficult technically to work with small Rayleigh numbers due to technical difficulties. However, the process of separations is canceled at high Rayleigh number by the strength of convection which causes a mixing in the binary mixture. This study shows that, by using adequate combinations of the controlling parameters, it becomes possible to reach a good level of separation even at relatively high Rayleigh numbers. Originality/value – Optimum choice of the magnetic field and the inclination of the cavity may lead to a good level of the separation process. For large Lewis numbers, the separation vanishes far above and far below the optimal Ha. However, for small Lewis numbers, an important level of separation is maintained for any Ha located below the optimal value of the latter parameter.