Rayleigh-Bénard Convection of Paramagnetic Liquid under a Magnetic Field from Permanent Magnets

Abstract

The convection control is important in terms of the heat transfer enhancement and improvement of the applied devices and resultant products. In this study, the convection control by a magnetic field from block permanent magnets is numerically investigated on the Rayleigh-Bénard convection of paramagnetic fluid. To enhance the magnetic force from the available permanent magnets, pairs of alternating-pole magnets are employed and aligned near the bottom heated wall. The lattice Boltzmann method is employed for the computation of the heat and fluid flow with the consideration of buoyancy and magnetothermal force on the working fluid. It is found that, since the magnetic force at the junction of pair magnets becomes strong remarkably and in the same direction as the gravity, descending convection flow is locally enhanced and the pair of symmetrical roll cells near the magnet junction becomes longitudinal. The local heat transfer corresponds to the affected roll cell pattern; locally enhanced at the magnet junctions and low heat transfer area is shifted aside the magnet outer edge. The averaged Nusselt number on the hot wall also increases proportionally to the magnetic induction but it is saturated at high magnetic induction. This suggests the roll cell pattern is no more largely affected at extremely-high magnetic induction.