Numerical Simulation of the Effects of Reduced Gravity, Radiation and Magnetic Field on Heat Transfer Past a Solid Sphere Using Finite Difference Method

Abstract

The current study deals with the reduced gravity and radiation effects on the magnetohydrodynamic natural convection past a solid sphere. The studied configuration is modeled using coupled and nonlinear partial differential equations. The obtained model is transformed to dimensionless form using suitable scaling variables. The finite difference method is adopted to solve the governing equation and determine the velocity and temperature profiles in addition to the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number. Furthermore, graphic and tabular presentations of the results are made. The verification of the numerical model is performed by comparing with results presented in the literature and a good concordance is encountered. The main objective of this investigation is to study the effect of the buoyancy force caused by the density variation on natural convective heat transfer past a solid sphere. The results show that the velocity increases with the reduced gravity parameter and solar radiation but decreases with Prandtl number and magnetic field parameter. It is also found that the temperature increases the with solar radiation and magnetic field but decreases with the reduced gravity parameter and Prandtl number.