Abstract: This paper
investigates the effect of an imposed magnetic field on the flow patterns, and
the entropy generation in a square cavity. A control volume finite element
method is used to solve the conservation equations
at Prandtl number of 0.71. The effects of Grashof number, Hartmann number and
inclination angle of the magnetic field are investigated. The study covers the
range of the Hartmann number from 0 to 50, the magnetic field inclination angle
from 0° to 90° with Grashof number ranging betweenandThe effects of Hartmann number and
the magnetic field inclination angle are presented graphically in terms of
isotherm and streamline plots. The effect of the magnetic field is found to
suppress the convection currents and heat transfer inside the
cavity. This effect is significant for high Grashof numbers. Results show
that the Nusselt number is clearly affected by the magnetic field. The effect of
the Hartmann number on entropy generation was investigated in steady-unsteady
state of natural convection. It was found
that entropy generation in the steady state decreases when Hartmann number
increases. Additionally, the oscillatory behaviorof the entropy generation at the onset of natural convection can be
suppressed at critical Hartmann number.
Keywords and phrases: entropy generation, heat transfer, convection, magnetic field, cavity, numerical method.
