Effect of an External Magnetic Field on the 3-D Oscillatory Natural Convection of Molten Gallium During Phase Change

Abstract

In this article, a numerical study of the effect of an external magnetic field on three-dimensional (3-D) oscillatory natural convection during phase change is carried out. A parallelepiped enclosure filled with a molten gallium and subjected to an external magnetic field applied in X-, Y-, and Z-directions, separately, is considered. The finite-volume method with enthalpy formulation is used to solve the mathematical model in the solid and liquid phases. The Hartmann number is fixed to Ha = 20.The computer program developed in this study was validated with the experimental data founded in the literature. The critical Grashof numbers Gr _Cr and critical corresponding frequencies F r _Cr are determined with and without magnetic field. The results show that the oscillatory natural convection during phase change are characterized by low-frequency oscillations in the presence and absence of the magnetic field. The pattern flow shows a spiral development of the flow in Z- direction. A strong dependence between the direction of the magnetic field and the critical Grashof number and their corresponding frequency is determined. A strong stabilization of the flow field is shown when the magnetic field is oriented horizontally.