Numerical Investigation of the Effects of a Magnetic Field on Nanofluid Flow and Heat Transfer by the Lattice Boltzmann Method

Abstract

In this study, the effects of a magnetic field on natural convection heat transfer in an enclosure filled with nanofluid are numerically investigated by using lattice Boltzmann method. The calculations were performed for a wide range of governing parameters. The results show that increase of Rayleigh number and nanoparticle volume fraction improves heat transfer in the enclosure, but an opposite trend is found when Hartmann number increases. The results also indicate that there are critical values for Raleigh number and the magnetic field orientation at which the impacts on flow and heat transfer are the most pronounced.