Flow Control Using Magnetic Field in Diverging Microchannel

Abstract: In the present work, the thermal and hydraulic performance analysis is performed for a diverging microchannel having magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) pressure-driven flow. Here liquid metal mercury is considered a working fluid where the temperature and flow fields are computed numerically by the finite volume approach with suitable boundary conditions. The present study is carried out using ANSYS Fluent Solver with an add-on MHD module. Working fluid flow is assumed to be steady, laminar, two-dimensional, incompressible, and Newtonian. The hydrodynamic and thermal behavior of working in the micro- channel are studied for different Hartmann number (Ha) of range from 0 ? Ha ? 50, respectively. The introduction of a magnetic field can modify the generation of recirculation zones in diverging sections, as well as the size and strength of the vortices generated. The results show that the dimensions of the recirculation zones decrease with Ha and disappear for moderate Re values. However, for higher Re values, the impact of the magnetic field is negligible. The influence of magnetic field gradient on heat transport is also investigated. The Nusselt number rises as the inclination angle rises. The present design method can also be used for controlling the fluid flow in micro- channels precisely.

Keywords: Microchannel, Hartmann Number, Nusselt Number, Mercury, and Liquid Flow

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 5, May 2023,

Pages: 2360 - 2369