Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T09:47:56.343Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of a weak vertical magnetic field on the buoyancy-driven boundary-layer flow past a vertical heated wall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2006

Oliver S. Kerr
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
A. A. Wheeler
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the effect of a weak vertical magnetic field on the boundary-layer flow of an electrically conducting fluid past a vertical heated wall. We derive similarity solutions for the flow and temperature and show that the flow is composed of three regions: an inner region where the flow is a regular perturbation of the classical boundary-layer flow due to a heated semi-infinite vertical plate; an inviscid outer region where fluid is entrained from downwards towards the plate; and beyond this a quiescent region, separated from the outer region by a free shear layer. Thus the effect of the magnetic field is to inhibit the entrainment of fluid across the magnetic field lines in the whole region and confine it to an outer boundary layer.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1989 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Batchelor, G. K.: 1967 An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics. Cambridge University Press.
Gill, A. E.: 1966 The boundary-layer regime for convection in a rectangular cavity. J. Fluid Mech. 26, 515.Google Scholar
Gray, D. D.: 1977 Laminar plume above a line heat source in a transverse magnetic field. Appl. Sci. Res. 33, 437.Google Scholar
Hjellming, L. N. & Walker, J. S., 1987 Melt motion in Czochralski crystal puller with an axial magnetic field: motion due to buoyancy and thermocapillarity. J. Fluid Mech. 182, 335.Google Scholar
Lykoudis, P. S.: 1962 Natural convection of an electrically conducting fluid in the presence of a magnetic field. Intl J. Heat Mass Transfer 5, 23.Google Scholar
Pohlhausen, E.: 1921 Der Wärmeaustausch zwischen festen Körpen Flüssigkeiten mit kleiner Reibung und kleiner Wärmeleitung. Z. angew. Math. Mech. 1, 115.Google Scholar
Riley, N.: 1976 A note on ‘simplfication and scaling’. Proc. Edinburgh Math. Soc. 20, 63.Google Scholar
Sackinger, P. A., Brown, R. A. & Derby, J. J., 1988 Finite element method for analysis of fluid flow, heat transfer and free interfaces in Czochralski crystal growth. Intl J. Num. Meth. Fluids (submitted).Google Scholar
Seki, M., Kawamura, H. & Sanokawa, K., 1979 Natural convection of mercury in a magnetic field parallel to the gravity. Trans. ASME C: J. Heat Transfer 101, 227.Google Scholar
Soward, A. M.: 1969 Steady free convection above a point heat source and a horizontal line heat source in a vertical magnetic field. J. Fluid Mech. 39, 753.Google Scholar
Sparrow, E. M. & Cess, R. D., 1961 The effect of a magnetic field on free convection heat transfer. Intl J. Heat Transfer 3, 267.Google Scholar
Wilks, G.: 1976 Magnetohydrodynamic free convection about a semi-infinite vertical plate in a strong cross field. Z. angew. Math. Phys. 27, 621.Google Scholar