Numerical and Experimental Analyses of Magnetic Convection of Paramagnetic Fluid in a Cylinder

Abstract

The magnetic convection of paramagnetic fluid in a cylindrical enclosure is studied experimentally and numerically. The upper side wall of the cylinder is cooled and the lower side wall heated, an unstable configuration. The whole system is placed coaxially in a bore of a superconducting magnet in the position of the minimum radial component of magnetic buoyancy force at the middle cross section of the enclosure. The stable configuration— when the whole system is placed inversely and the horizontal axial case are also considered. As a paramagnetic fluid an aqueous solution of glycerol with the gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate is used. The isotherms in the middle-height cross section are visualized by thermochromic liquid crystal slurry. For the unstable configuration the magnetic buoyancy force acts to assist the gravitational buoyancy force to give multiple spoke patterns at the mid cross section. The stable configuration gives an almost stagnant state without the magnetic field. Application of the magnetic field induces the convective flow similar to the unstable configuration. For the horizontal configuration a large roll convective flow (without the magnetic field) is changed under the magnetic field to the spoke pattern. The numerical results correspond to the experimental results.