A difficult and fascinating phenomenon, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) natural convection heat transfer in a porous square cavity filled with nanofluids is essential for many technical applications. The conductive nanofluid reacts to an external magnetic field employing the Lorentz force, which changes the flow characteristics. Based on the reference paper entitled “ MHD Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Porous Square Cavity Filled by Nanofluids with Viscous Dissipation “, the present CFD simulation is performed.

Simulation Process

The primary model and structured mesh production are carried out in the initial step without difficulties. The flow characteristics are calculated by non-dimensional parameters such as Rayleigh number (Ra), magnetic field parameter (M), and Eckert number (Ec).

The MHD module must be activated via the console part in ANSYS Fluent to apply a magnetic field to the cavity. The Porous zone is also considered, addressing the cavity’s porosity specifications. Further, the mixture of nanofluid and base fluid is simulated by considering a single-phase approach.

Post-processing

As in a classical scenario, convection forms and a cellular flow structure is generated as the fluid within the cavity heats the left wall. The intensity of the flow rises as M grows. Since the size of the vortex increases horizontally as M increases, streamlines are closer to the hot and cold walls.In the lower region, the isotherms are closer to the hot wall, while in the upper section, they are closer to the cold wall. Consequently, there is a greater temperature differential at the cavity bottom than elsewhere, which causes a large amount of heat transfer.