Magnetic Interaction Parameter Research Articles

Vortical structures and turbulent bursts behind magnetic obstacles in transitional flow regimes

The present paper reports on numerical investigations of vortical structures in transient flow regimes generated by the local action of the Lorentz force on an electrically conductive fluid. The locally imposed non-uniform magnetic field generates similar effects as observed for flows over submerged solid obstacles. It is demonstrated that complex flow patterns can be generated by imposing magnetic fields of different strengths. The initial validation of the electromagnetically extended Navier–Stokes solver on unstructured numerical grids is performed in the low-Reynolds number range 100 ⩽ Re ⩽ 400 for different values of the magnetic interaction parameter. A generally good agreement is obtained in comparison with similar numerical studies of Votyakov et al. (2007, 2008) for the low-Reynolds number cases. Then, a series of simulations are performed in transitional flow regimes ( Re = 900) for different values of the interaction parameter ( N = 3, … , 25). Simulations demonstrated the appearance of vortex-shedding phenomena similar to the flows behind solid obstacles. In contrast to the solid obstacles, the magnetic obstacles also generated the vortical flow patterns inside the magnetically affected regions. This feature can be used for the flow control of electrically conductive fluids, for efficient enhancements of the wall-heat transfer or for better mixing of passive scalars. Despite the laminar inflow conditions, turbulent bursts are observed in the magnetic wake region for the Re = 900 case. The velocity spectra and spatial distributions of the long-time averaged second-moments of the velocity field demonstrated that turbulence was locally sustained in the proximity of the magnetic wake edge.

Effects of slip on steady Bödewadt flow and heat transfer of an electrically conducting non-Newtonian fluid

The steady flow and heat transfer arising due to the rotation of a non-Newtonian fluid at a larger distance from a stationary disk is extended to the case where the disk surface admits partial slip. The constitutive equation of the non-Newtonian fluid is modeled by that for a Reiner–Rivlin fluid. The fluid is subjected to an external uniform magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the disk. The momentum equation gives rise to a highly nonlinear boundary value problem. Numerical solution of the governing nonlinear equations are obtained over the entire range of the physical parameters. The effects of slip, non-Newtonian fluid characteristics and the magnetic interaction parameter on the momentum boundary layer and thermal boundary layer are discussed in detail and shown graphically. It is observed that slip has prominent effects on the velocity and temperature fields.

Thermal radiation effects on the time-dependent MHD permeable flow having variable viscosity

The present work is devoted to the impacts of thermal radiation on the unsteady laminar convective MHD flow of a viscous electrically conducting fluid having a temperature-dependent viscosity over a rotating porous disk of infinite extend impulsively set into motion. The fluid is subjected to an external uniform magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the disk. The governing Navier-Stokes and Maxwell equations of the hydromagnetic fluid, together with the energy equation, are reduced into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations via the Von Karman similarity transformations. Due to the radiation effect and variable viscosity property the equations are highly coupled. These equations are then solved numerically by using a technique based on the spectral Chebyshev collocation in the direction normal to the disk and forward marching in time. Transient effects are discussed first. Later a parametric study of all parameters involved is performed and a representative set of results incorporating the effects of Prandtl number, the viscosity variation parameter, the magnetic interaction parameter, the radiation parameter, the uniform suction/blowing parameter, the relative temperature difference parameter and the Eckert number on physically meaningful quantities such as the radial and tangential skin friction coefficients, the torque, the vertical wall suction and the rate of heat transfer from the disk surface are illustrated graphically and discussed.

Soret and Dufour effects on MHD slip flow with thermal radiation over a porous rotating infinite disk

In this investigation, thermal radiation effect over an electrically conducting, Newtonian fluid in a steady laminar magnetohydrodynamic convective flow over a porous rotating infinite disk with the consideration of heat and mass transfer in the presence of Soret and Dufour diffusion effects is investigated. The partial differential equations governing the problem under consideration are transformed by a similarity transformation into a system of ordinary differential equations which are solved numerically using fourth order Runge–Kutta based shooting method. The effects of the magnetic interaction parameter, slip flow parameter, Soret number, Dufour number, Schmidt number, radiation parameter, Prandtl number and suction parameter on the fluid velocity, temperature and concentration distributions in the regime are depicted graphically and are analyzed in detail. The corresponding skin-friction coefficients, the Nusselt number and the Sherwood number are also calculated and displayed in tables showing the effects of various parameters on them.

Decay of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence at low magnetic Reynolds number

We report a detailed numerical investigation of homogeneous decaying turbulence in an electrically conducting fluid in the presence of a uniform constant magnetic field. The asymptotic limit of low magnetic Reynolds number is assumed. Large-eddy simulations with the dynamic Smagorinsky model are performed in a computational box sufficiently large to minimize the effect of periodic boundary conditions. The initial microscale Reynolds number is about 170 and the magnetic interaction parameter N varies between 0 and 50. We find that except for a short period of time when N = 50, the flow evolution is strongly influenced by nonlinearity and cannot be adequately described by any of the existing theoretical models. One particularly noteworthy result is the near equipartition between the rates of Joule and viscous dissipations of the kinetic energy observed at all values of N during the late stages of the decay. Further, the velocity components parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field decay at different rates, whose value depends on the strength of the magnetic field and the stage of the decay. This leads to a complex evolution of the Reynolds stress anisotropy ellipsoid, which goes from being rod-shaped, through spherical to disc-shaped. We also discuss the possibility of the power-law decay, the comparison between computed, experimental and theoretical decay exponents, the anisotropy of small-scale fluctuations, and the evolution of the spectral energy distributions.

Effects of partial slip on axisymmetric flow of an electrically conducting viscoelastic fluid past a stretching sheet

Abstract The entrained flow of an electrically conducting non-Newtonian, viscoelastic second grade fluid due to an axisymmetric stretching surface with partial slip is considered. The partial slip is controlled by a dimensionless slip factor, which varies between zero (total adhesion) and infinity (full slip). Suitable similarity transformations are used to reduce the resulting highly nonlinear partial differential equation into an ordinary differential equation. The issue of paucity of boundary conditions is addressed, and an effective numerical scheme has been adopted to solve the obtained differential equation even without augmenting the boundary conditions. The important findings in this communication are the combined effects of the partial slip, magnetic interaction parameter and the second grade fluid parameter on the velocity and skin friction coefficient. It is observed that in presence of slip, the velocity decreases with an increase in the magnetic parameter. That is, the Lorentz force which opposes the flow leads to enhanced deceleration of the flow. Moreover, it is interesting to find that as slip increases in magnitude, permitting more fluid to slip past the sheet, the skin friction coefficient decreases in magnitude and approaches zero for higher values of the slip parameter, i.e., the fluid behaves as though it were inviscid.

On steady MHD flow and heat transfer past a rotating disk in a porous medium with ohmic heating and viscous dissipation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the hydromagnetic steady flow and heat transfer characteristics of an incompressible viscous electrically conducting fluid past a rotating disk in a porous medium with ohmic heating, Hall current and viscous dissipation are also investigated.Design/methodology/approachUsing appropriate similarity variables and boundary‐layer approximations, the fluid equations for continuity, momentum and energy balance governing the problem are formulated. These equations are solved numerically by using the most effective Newton‐Raphson shooting method along with fourth‐order Runge‐Kutta integration algorithm.FindingsIt was found that magnetic field retards the fluid motion due to the opposing Lorentz force generated by the magnetic field. Both the magnetic field and the Eckert number tend to enhance the heat transfer efficiency. The Hall parameter however reduces the heat transfer rate. In terms of the friction coefficient, the magnetic interaction parameter, the Hall parameter and the Eckert number all combine to increase the skin friction, while increasing the Darcy number (increasing permeability) reduces the skin friction so increasing the fluid velocity.Practical implicationsThis paper provides a very useful source of information for researchers on the subject of hydromagnetic flow in porous media.Originality/valueThis type of problem has potential to serve as a prototype for practical swirl problems, for example, axisymmetric flow in combustors.

Effects of slip, viscous dissipation and Joule heating on the MHD flow and heat transfer of a second grade fluid past a radially stretching sheet

The flow and heat transfer of an electrically conducting non-Newtonian second grade fluid due to a radially stretching surface with partial slip is considered. The partial slip is controlled by a dimensionless slip factor, which varies between zero (total adhesion) and infinity (full slip). Suitable similarity transformations are used to reduce the resulting highly nonlinear partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. The issue of paucity of boundary conditions is addressed and an effective numerical scheme is adopted to solve the obtained differential equations even without augmenting any extra boundary conditions. The important findings in this communication are the combined effects of the partial slip, magnetic interaction parameter and the second grade fluid parameter on the velocity and temperature fields. It is interesting to find that the slip increases the momentum and thermal boundary layer thickness. As the slip increases in magnitude, permitting more fluid to slip past the sheet, the skin friction coefficient decreases in magnitude and approaches zero for higher values of the slip parameter, i.e., the fluid behaves as though it were inviscid. The presence of a magnetic field has also substantial effects on velocity and temperature fields.

Three-Dimensional Magnetic Fluid Boundary Layer Flow Over a Linearly Stretching Sheet

The three-dimensional laminar and steady boundary layer flow of an electrically nonconducting and incompressible magnetic fluid, with low Curie temperature and moderate saturation magnetization, over an elastic stretching sheet, is numerically studied. The fluid is subject to the magnetic field generated by an infinitely long, straight wire, carrying an electric current. The magnetic fluid far from the surface is at rest and at temperature greater of that of the sheet. It is also assumed that the magnetization of the fluid varies with the magnetic field strength H and the temperature T. The numerical solution of the coupled and nonlinear system of ordinary differential equations, resulting after the introduction of appropriate nondimensional variables, with its boundary conditions, describing the problem under consideration, is obtained by an efficient numerical technique based on the common finite difference method. Numerical calculations are carried out for the case of a representative water-based magnetic fluid and for specific values of the dimensionless parameters entering into the problem, and the obtained results are presented graphically for these values of the parameters. The analysis of these results showed that there is an interaction between the motions of the fluid, which are induced by the stretching surface and by the action of the magnetic field, and the flow field is noticeably affected by the variations in the magnetic interaction parameter β. The important results of the present analysis are summarized in Sec. 6.

MHD flow past a circular cylinder using the immersed boundary method

The immersed boundary method (IB hereafter) is an efficient numerical methodology for treating purely hydrodynamic flows in geometrically complicated flow-domains. Recently Grigoriadis et als. [1] proposed an extension of the IB method that accounts for electromagnetic effects near non-conducting boundaries in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows. The proposed extension (hereafter called MIB method) integrates naturally within the original IB concept and is suitable for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of liquid metal flows. It is based on the proper definition of an externally applied current density field in order to satisfy the Maxwell equations in the presence of arbitrarily-shaped, non-conducting immersed boundaries. The efficiency of the proposed method is achieved by fast direct solutions of the two poisson equations for the hydrodynamic pressure and the electrostatic potential. The purpose of the present study is to establish the performance of the new MIB method in challenging configurations for which sufficient details are available in the literature. For this purpose, we have considered the classical MHD problem of a conducting fluid that is exposed to an external magnetic field while flowing across a circular cylinder with electrically insulated boundaries. Two- and three-dimensional, steady and unsteady, flow regimes were examined for Reynolds numbers Re d ranging up to 200 based on the cylinder’s diameter. The intensity of the external magnetic field, as characterized by the magnetic interaction parameter N, varied from N = 0 for the purely hydrodynamic cases up to N = 5 for the MHD cases. For each simulation, a sufficiently fine Cartesian computational mesh was selected to ensure adequate resolution of the thin boundary layers developing due to the magnetic field, the so called Hartmann and sidewall layers. Results for a wide range of flow and magnetic field strength parameters show that the MIB method is capable of accurately reproducing integral parameters, such as the lift and drag coefficients, as well as the geometrical details of the recirculation zones. The results of the present study suggest that the proposed MIB methodology provides a powerful numerical tool for accurate MHD simulations, and that it can extend the applicability of existing Cartesian flow solvers as well as the range of computable MHD flows. Moreover, the new MIB method has been used to carrry out a series of accurate simulations allowing the determination of asymptotic laws for the lift and drag coefficients and the extent of the recirculation length as a function of the amplitude of the magnetic field. These results are reported herein.

Characterization of the three-dimensional supersonic flow for the MHD generator

A numerical procedure based on a five-wave MHD model associated with non-ideal, low magnetic Reynolds number MHD flows was developed in the present study for analyzing the flow fields in the MHD generator of a MHD bypass scramjet. The numerical procedure is composed of an entropy conditioned scheme for solving the non-homogeneous Navier-Stokes equations, in conjunction with an SOR method for solving the elliptic equation governing the electrical potential. It was found that a separation would take place near the downstream edge of the second electrode, where the local adverse pressure gradient is large, and the core of the flow field is characterized as a 2-D flow due to the Hartmann effects along the direction of the magnetic field. The electric current lines would be increasingly distorted as the magnetic interactive parameter increases, and even induce an eddy current. Induced eddy current was also found in the different cross-sections along the axial direction, all of these would definitely deteriorate the performance of the MHD generator. The cross-sectional M-shape velocity profile found along the axial direction between the insulating walls is responsible for the formation of the vortex flow at the corner of the insulator cross-section, which, in turn, induces the corner eddy current at the corner. A numerical parametric study was also performed, and the computed performance parameters for the MHD generator suggest that, in order to enhance the performance of MHD generator, the magnetic interaction parameter should be elevated.

Nonlinear Study of Magnetohydrodynamic Laminar Flow Between Permeable Disks Using CESS

A two-dimensional, steady, laminar flow of an electrically conducting incompressible, viscous fluid between two parallel permeable disks in the presence of a transverse magnetic field is studied using the computer-extended series solution (CESS). It is shown, using suitable analysis that the radius of convergence (ROC) is greatly influenced by the parameters of the problem, which renders the classical regular perturbation technique (RPT) ineffective for values of the perturbation parameter beyond the ROC. The ROC is shown to decrease with an increase in the value of the interaction parameter N. The skin friction coefficient and coefficient of pressure distribution are evaluated for different values of suction/injection Reynolds number R and magnetic interaction parameter N. The advantages of using the CESS method over the RPT and numerical techniques are discussed. © 2009 Begell House, Inc.

A buoyant flow structure in a magnetic field: Quasi-steady states and linear–nonlinear transitions

The confined evolution of a buoyant blob of fluid subject to a vertical magnetic field is investigated in the limit of low magnetic Reynolds number. When the applied magnetic field is strong, the rise velocity of the blob is small. As the vorticity diffuses along the magnetic field lines, a quasi-steady state characterised by a balance between the work done by buoyancy and Ohmic dissipation is eventually reached at time t q s ∼ ( L 2 / δ 2 ) τ , where L is the axial dimension of the fluid domain, δ is the radius of the buoyant blob and τ is the magnetic damping time. However, when the applied magnetic field is weak or the axial length is sufficiently large compared to the blob size, the growth of axial velocity eventually makes the advection of vorticity significant. The typical time for the attainment of this nonlinear phase is t n l ∼ N 0 2 / 3 τ , where N 0 is the magnetic interaction parameter at time t = τ . The order-of-magnitude estimates for the timescales t q s and t n l are verified by computational experiments that capture both the linear and nonlinear phases.

Smagorinsky constant in LES modeling of anisotropic MHD turbulence

Turbulent fluctuations in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows can become strongly anisotropic or even quasi-2D under the action of an applied magnetic field. We investigate this phenomenon in the case of low magnetic Reynolds numbers. It has been found in earlier DNS and LES of homogeneous turbulence that the degree of anisotropy is predominantly determined by the value of the magnetic interaction parameter and only slightly depends on the Reynolds number, type of large-scale dynamics, and the length scale. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the dynamic Smagorinsky model is capable of self-adjustment to the effects of anisotropy. In this paper, we capitalize on these results and propose a simple and effective generalization of the traditional non-dynamic Smagorinsky model to the case of anisotropic MHD turbulence.

Transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

We report a theoretical investigation of the robustness of two-dimensional inviscid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows at low magnetic Reynolds numbers with respect to three-dimensional perturbations. We use a combination of linear stability analysis and direct numerical simulations to analyse three problems, namely the flow in the interior of a triaxial ellipsoid, and two unbounded flows: a vortex with elliptical streamlines and a vortex sheet parallel to the magnetic field. The flow in a triaxial ellipsoid is found to present an exact analytical model which demonstrates both the existence of inviscid unstable three-dimensional modes and the stabilizing role of the magnetic field. The nonlinear evolution of the flow is characterized by intermittency typical of other MHD flows with long periods of nearly two-dimensional behaviour interrupted by violent three-dimensional transients triggered by the instability. We demonstrate, using the second model, that motion with elliptical streamlines perpendicular to the magnetic field becomes unstable with respect to the elliptical instability once the magnetic interaction parameter falls below a critical magnitude whose value tends to infinity as the eccentricity of the streamlines increases. Furthermore, the third model indicates that vortex sheets parallel to the magnetic field, which are unstable for any velocity and any magnetic field, emit eddies with vorticity perpendicular to the magnetic field. Whether the investigated instabilities persist in the presence of small but finite viscosity, in which case two-dimensional turbulence would represent a singular state of MHD flows, remains an open question.

Anisotropy of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence at low magnetic Reynolds number

Turbulent fluctuations in magnetohydrodynamic flows are known to become anisotropic under the action of a sufficiently strong magnetic field. We investigate this phenomenon in the case of low magnetic Reynolds number using direct numerical simulations and large eddy simulations of a forced flow in a periodic box. A series of simulations is performed with different strengths of the magnetic field, varying Reynolds number, and two types of forcing, one of which is isotropic and the other limited to two-dimensional flow modes. We find that both the velocity anisotropy (difference in the relative amplitude of the velocity components) and the anisotropy of the velocity gradients are predominantly determined by the value of the magnetic interaction parameter. The effects of the Reynolds number and the type of forcing are much weaker. We also find that the anisotropy varies only slightly with the length scale.

Experimental study of single bubble motion in a liquid metal column exposed to a DC magnetic field

The motion of single Argon bubbles rising in the eutectic alloy GaInSn under the influence of a DC longitudinal magnetic field (parallel to the direction of bubble motion) was examined. The magnetic field strength was varied up to 0.3 T corresponding to a magnetic interaction parameter N (which measures the ratio of electromagnetic forces to inertial forces) slightly greater than 1. The liquid metal was at rest in a cylindrical container. Bubble and liquid velocities were measured using ultrasound Doppler velocimetry (UDV). The measured bubble terminal velocity showed oscillations indicating a zigzag movement of ellipsoidal bubbles. For small bubbles ( d e ⩽ 4.6 mm) an increase of the drag coefficient with increasing magnetic interaction parameter N was observed, whereas for larger bubbles ( d e ⩾ 5.4 mm) the application of the magnetic field reduces the drag coefficient. The measurements revealed a distinct electromagnetic damping of the bubble induced liquid velocity leading to more rectilinear bubble trajectories when the magnetic field is applied. Moreover, significant modifications of the bubble wake structure were observed. Raising of the magnetic field strength caused an enlargement of the eddies in the wake. The Strouhal number decreases with increasing magnetic interaction parameter N.

Surface waves created by low-frequency magnetic fields

This paper analyses the effects of a low frequency A.C. magnetic field on the free surface of a liquid metal. The action of the vertical and uniform magnetic field is twofold. First it creates forced standing surface waves which generally exhibit symmetry related to that of the container; second it triggers non-symmetric free surface instabilities superimposed on the forced regime. A previous paper considered the case of a circular cylindrical tank where axisymmetric forced standing waves caused an electric current perturbation which then excited non-axisymmetric waves at a critical A.C. field intensity. Nonlinear interaction between the symmetric and non-symmetric modes was not taken into account. The present work treats the problem from a more general standpoint. Equilibrium perturbations are developed systematically to order N 2 (where N is the magnetic interaction parameter) and at this level of approximation we also need to consider nonlinear mode interactions and electromagnetic damping. The theory applies to tanks of arbitrary shape and the O( N) irrotational motion may be described by the torsion function for the particular pool cross-section. For circular and annular tanks we then derive a system of coupled Mathieu–Hill equations for the time-development of non-symmetric surface modes. Two main types of parametric resonance are predicted, namely the single or combination mode, and the particular type observed may depend on the geometry of the tank. Results of the stability analysis are confirmed by experimental work carried out in mercury pools.

Direct numerical simulation as a tool for understanding MHD liquid metal turbulence

The method of direct numerical simulation (DNS) is applied to investigate the most general properties of turbulent flows of liquid metals in the presence of a constant magnetic field. Various aspects of the flow transformation into an anisotropic state are thoroughly examined. The flow is assumed to be homogeneous and the problem is reduced to the classical case of a turbulent flow in a 3D box with periodic boundary conditions. In the framework of this formulation, three specific types of the flow are considered, which are the forced flow, thermal convection, and freely decaying flow. To investigate the long-time evolution of an initially isotropic flow a large-scale forcing is applied to maintain the flow energy at a statistically steady level. The evolution is found to depend strongly on the magnetic interaction parameter (Stuart number). In the case of small Stuart number, the flow remains three-dimensional, turbulent, and approximately isotropic. At large Stuart number (strong magnetic field) the turbulence is suppressed rapidly and the flow becomes two-dimensional and laminar. Very interesting is the intermittent flow evolution detected at moderate Stuart number. Long periods of almost two-dimensional, laminar behaviour are interrupted by strong turbulent three-dimensional bursts. The influence of a constant magnetic field on scalar transport properties of liquid metal turbulence is investigated using the simplified formulation of a homogeneous flow driven by an imposed mean temperature gradient. The flow structure is dominated by two turbulent antiparallel jets providing an effective mechanism of heat transfer. It is shown that the magnetic field parallel to the mean temperature gradient stabilizes the jets and, thus, enhances heat transfer considerably. In the third part, freely decaying MHD turbulence is considered. Numerical simulations are applied to verify the theoretical model proposed in [J. Fluid Mech. 336 (1997) 123]. In particular, it is confirmed that the structure of viscous dissipation and evolution of perpendicular length scale are affected only slightly by the magnetic field. A simple approximation for the mean Joule dissipation is proposed.

Numerical and analytical study of rotating flow in an enclosed cylinder under an axial magnetic field

A numerical and analytical study of the steady laminar flow driven by a rotating disk at the top of an enclosed cylinder, having an aspect ratio H/R equal to 1, filled with a liquid metal, and submitted to an axial magnetic field B, is presented. The governing equations in cylindrical coordinates are solved by a finite volume method. In the absence of a magnetic field, the numerical method is validated via a comparison with experimental data; the latter was found to be in good agreement with the predictions. In the presence of a magnetic field, the analytical velocity profiles under the rotating disk and on the bottom wall obtained for a high value of the magnetic interaction parameter N are in excellent agreement with those obtained by numerical simulations. The effect of the top, bottom and vertical walls' conductivity on the flow is studied and found to be an important parameter in the control of the flow.