Impact of Magnetic Fields and Fins on Entropy Generation, Thermal, and Hydrodynamic Performance in the Ferrofluids Flow within a Mini Channel

Abstract

The present work reports a CFD study of the magneto-convection of a ferrofluid (Fe3O4/water) circulating in a mini-channel under the influence of different vortex generators (fins and permanent magnets). The lower surface of the mini-channel is maintained at a constant temperature, while the upper surface is thermally insulated. The influence of fins, magnetic field intensity, and Reynolds number on the thermal and dynamic characteristics of the flow was numerically investigated using the finite volume method. The obtained results show that the coexistence of these two types of vortex generators considerably affects the flow structure; Entropy generation and heat transfer rate. Finally, the analysis of the different results shows that the concurrent presence of both the magnetic field and the fins results in a notably more efficient system. Using magnetic sources and fins simultaneously in a system with an intense magnetic field and a low Reynolds number can lead to a large gain in heat transfer.

Keywords

• ferrofluids
• vortex generator
• magnetic source
• magnetic body force
• entropy generation