Lattice Boltzmann simulation of magnetic field effects on nanofluid

Abstract

In this paper, the magnetic field effects on natural convection heat transfer in an enclosure filled with nanofluid are numerically investigated by using lattice Boltzmann method. The fluid in the enclosure is a water-based nanofluid containing Al2O3 nanoparticles. A uniform external magnetic field with different angles was applied. A series of simulation cases were carried out for different governing parameters including Hartmann number, Rayleigh number, the nanoparticle volume fractions and magnetic field angles. The results show that the increasing Rayleigh number and nanoparticle volume fraction improve the heat transfer in the enclosure. However, the heat transfer has been suppressed when Hartmann number increases. The results also indicate there are critical values for the Raleigh number and also the magnetic field orientation, at which the impacts of the solid volume fraction and magnetic field effects are the most pronounced.