Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects on heat transfer and melting in a large-scale cavity with fins containing gallium considering buoyancy and Lorentz forces
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This research investigates the heat transfer and melting rate of gallium within a large-scale finned cavity under the influence of a magnetic field. A two-dimensional mathematical model was developed, and simulations were conducted using a finite volume method-based program to solve the governing equations. Custom numerical functions (UDFs) were incorporated, and a magnetic field ranging from 0 to 0.1 Tesla was applied. The heating wall was maintained at a constant temperature of 43 °C. Key properties analyzed included the liquid fraction, heat flow rate, average cavity temperature, and surface Nusselt numbers. The gallium melting process was monitored over a 60-min period until thermal equilibrium was achieved. The simulation results were validated against experimental data, showing strong agreement. The findings revealed that the application of a magnetic field influences the gallium melting rate, with a 0.1 Tesla magnetic flux reducing the melting rate by 2%. This indicates that Lorentz forces impede heat transfer through natural convection.
Source: Discover Applied Sciences
Institutions: Research Center in Industrial Technologies, Renewable Energy Development Center, Ambo University, Laboratoire Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche en Ingénierie des Systèmes, Mécanique et Energétique, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Centre Val de Loire, University of Constantine 3, Larbi Ben M'hidi University of Oum El Bouaghi
Language: English
Subfield: Computational Mechanics
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414495680