Influence of inclined magnetic field on mixed convective cross flow across a cylinder with uniform heat flux condition

Abstract

This numerical study delves into the interplay between inclined magnetohydrodynamic flow and mixed convective heat transfer in a cylindrical geometry under uniform heat flux condition. The study employs a quasi-static model, where the fluid is flowing in a cross-stream regime, satisfies the Boussinesq approximation. A higher-order finite difference scheme is adopted to discretize the non-linear Navier–Stokes and energy equations, followed by a stable pseudo-time iterative technique. This study reveals that a lower Richardson number and interaction parameter are sufficient to induce vortex shedding under positive magnetic angles that can not be achieved in case of aligned magnetic field. Increasing the strength of magnetic field tends to restore the symmetric flow structure from the buoyancy-driven asymmetric one, contingent upon the magnetohydrodynamic flow orientations. The coefficients of viscous and pressure drag, average Nusselt number become non-monotonic for the aligned magnetic field, whereas it becomes strictly monotonic for other positive magnetic inclination angles at each Richardson number. Interestingly, increasing magnetic inclination angle allows to augment the total drag coefficient and overall heat transfer drastically. Critical interaction parameter is determined for average Nusselt number at various Richardson and Reynolds numbers under aligned magnetic field. The heat transfer is significantly more enhanced under uniform heat flux condition compared to constant wall temperature condition. The enhanced heat transfer achieved through magnetic field integration and modified thermal conditions has significant potential for applications such as electronic cooling, solar collectors, material processing, and more.