Ferrofluid pipe flow under the influence of the magnetic field of a cylindrical coil

Abstract

Ferrofluid pipe flow under the effect of a co-linear, finite length cylindrical coil is examined numerically. The specific flow configuration is chosen as it is encountered in engineering and bioengineering applications such as magnetic drug targeting systems. The objective of the paper is twofold: first, to investigate the accuracy of an analytical solution for the magnetization equation and assess its validity when used for non-uniform magnetic fields. It is found that it can be very helpful as a means of estimating the magnetization, especially for strong magnetic fields with low gradients; second, to examine the effects of the magnetic field on the flow and study the relevant importance of the magnetic terms of the momentum equation. The parameters that we examine are the strength of the magnetic field and of its gradients, the volumetric concentration of the magnetic particles, and the dimensions (length and diameter) of the coil. It is revealed that the axial pressure drop depends linearly on the volumetric concentration and that the magnetoviscosity effect is negligible in cases of non-uniform magnetic fields.