Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2016) 131: 413
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2016-16413-y

Regular Article

CVFEM for magnetic nanofluid convective heat transfer in a porous curved enclosure

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Babol University of Technology, Babol, Iran

^* e-mail: m_sh_3750@yahoo.com

Received: 29 September 2016
Accepted: 8 November 2016
Published online: 29 November 2016

Abstract

The influence of a magnetic field on the nanofluid hydrothermal behavior in a porous curved enclosure is examined. A constant heat flux condition is considered for the inner wall. A new numerical approach is applied, namely the Control Volume-based Finite Element Method (CVFEM). Impacts of Darcy (Da) , Rayleigh (Ra) , Hartmann (Ha) numbers and volume fraction of Fe₃O₄ () on the hydrothermal treatment are graphically depicted in figures. Results reveal that the thermal boundary thickness increases with increasing Ha while it decreases with increasing Ra , , Da . Nanofluid motion decreases with increasing the Hartmann number but it increases with increasing the Darcy number. At low Darcy and high Hartmann numbers, impact of adding Fe₃O₄ is more effective.