Numerical study of an unsteady free convective magnetohydrodynamic flow of a dissipative fluid along a vertical plate subject to a constant heat flux

• Published in: International journal of engineering science Vol. 44; no. 18; pp. 1380 - 1393
• Main Author: ZUECO JORDAN, Joaquin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Convection and heat transfer; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General theory; Magnetic field; Magnetohydrodynamics and electrohydrodynamics; Mass transfer; Natural convection; Network model; Physics; Turbulent flows, convection, and heat transfer; Viscous dissipation; Natural convection; Viscous dissipation; Network model; Magnetic field; Mass transfer; Transient response; Magnetohydrodynamics; Difference scheme; Nusselt number; Transient flow; Heat flow; Unsteady flow; Steady state; Heat flux; Direct method; Infinite medium; Modelling; Magnetic fields; Free flow; Non linear effect; Plates; Finite difference method
• ISSN: 0020-7225; 1879-2197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijengsci.2006.08.006

A new method is presented to solve the transient free convection MHD flow of a dissipative fluid along a semi-infinite vertical plate with mass transfer, the surface of which is exposed to a constant heat flux. The non-linear system of partial differential equations is numerically solved by means of the network simulation method, based on the thermo–electric analogy. This method permits the direct visualisation and evolution of the local and/or integrated transport variables (temperatures, velocities, concentrations and fluxes) at any point or section of the medium. At the same time, the solution for both transient and steady-state problems is obtained, the only requirement being finite-difference schemes for the spatial variable, while its programming does not involve manipulation of the sophisticated mathematical software that is inherent in other numerical methods. The technique is always stable and convergent. Velocity, temperature and concentration profiles, local skin-friction, local Nusselt and local Sherwood numbers are plotted for air. The influence of the viscous dissipation, buoyancy ratio parameter, Schmidt number and magnetic parameter on heat and mass transfer and on the time needed to reach the steady-state are discussed.