Simulation of MHD free convection inside a square enclosure filled porous foam

Abstract

MHD natural convection of Fe3O4-water suspension in the presence of magnetic field of solenoid inside a porous enclosure was numerically simulated. Computational fluid dynamic based on finite volume method were exerted to break and solve the PDEs equations. A solenoid was embedded around the cavity for generating a non-uniform magnetic field. The vertical walls of enclosure were maintained at uniform temperatures of Th and Tc and horizontal walls were insulated. Many cases have been simulated to understand the impacts of porous Rayleigh numbers of 10–1000, volume fractions of 0–4%, porosities of 0.5–0.9, and Hartmann numbers 0 to 120. Findings indicate that the presence of magnetic field had a positive effect on heat transfer in low porous Rayleigh number and high Hartmann number, for all porosities. In highest porosity and 4% volume fraction, Nusselt number increased 140%; whereas at high Rap, the presence of a weak magnetic field decreased the heat transfer rate.