MHD Natural Convection Investigation in Enclosures With a Heated Semi-Circular Body on the Inside

Abstract

Numerical analysis employing a finite volume method is used to explore the impact of a magnetic field and the radius of a heated semi-circular body on heat transfer by natural convection and fluid flow structures within a square enclosure. The current study is governed by specific control parameters, such as the Hartmann number (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 60), the tilt of the magnetic field (0° ≤ γ ≤ 180°), the Rayleigh number (10<sup>3</sup> ≤ Ra ≤ 10<sup>6</sup>), and the size of the heated semi-circular body (0.1 ≤ R ≤0.4). The Prandtl number is set at Pr = 6.2. The results are presented using streamlines, isotherms, and mean Nusselt numbers. The outcomes show that raising the Rayleigh number and the radius of the heated semi-circular body improves heat transfer, while increasing the Hartmann number reduces heat transfer. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the direction of the magnetic field has a considerable and symmetrical effect on the flow and temperature fields, impacting heat transfer. Specifically, for Rayleigh numbers of Ra = 10<sup>5</sup> and Ra = 10<sup>6</sup>, the Nusselt number is improved by 25.2% and 6%, respectively, as the angle y raises from 0° to 90°.