Magnetohydrodynamic and Ferrohydrodynamic Fluid Flow Using the Finite Volume Method

Abstract

Many problems in fluid mechanics describe the change in the flow under the effect of electromagnetic forces. The present study explores the behaviour of an electric conducting, Newtonian fluid flow applying the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and ferrohydrodynamics (FHD) principles. The physical problems for such flows are formulated by the Navier–Stokes equations with the conservation of mass and energy equations, which constitute a coupled non-linear system of partial differential equations subject to analogous boundary conditions. The numerical solution of such physical problems is not a trivial task due to the electromagnetic forces which may cause severe disturbances in the flow field. In the present study, a numerical algorithm based on a finite volume method is developed for the solution of such problems. The basic characteristics of the method are, the set of equations is solved using a simultaneous direct approach, the discretization is achieved using the finite volume method, and the solution is attained solving an implicit non-linear system of algebraic equations with intense source terms created by the non-uniform magnetic field. For the validation of the overall algorithm, comparisons are made with previously published results concerning MHD and FHD flows. The advantages of the proposed methodology are that it is direct and the governing equations are not manipulated like other methods such as the stream function vorticity formulation. Moreover, it is relatively easily extended for the study of three-dimensional problems. This study examines the Hartmann flow and the fluid flow with FHD principles, that formulate MHD and FHD flows, respectively. The major component of the Hartmann flow is the Hartmann number, which increases in value the stronger the Lorentz forces are, thus the fluid decelerates. In the case of FHD fluid flow, the major finding is the creation of vortices close to the external magnetic field source, and the stronger the magnetic field of the source, the larger the vortices are.