Visualization of Wall Temperature Distribution Caused by Natural Convection of Magnetic Fluids in A Cubic Enclosure

Abstract

This paper presents experimental results on natural convection of magnetic fluids in a cubic enclosure with isothermal hot and cold walls under magnetic fields. The vertical magnetic fields were applied uniformly and nonuniformly using a permanent magnet and a electromagnet, respectively. Temperature distributions on a front wall were visualized by a thermosensitive liquid crystal. The horizontal temperature distributions on the central cross-section and Nusselt numbers were measured. The effects of uniform and non-uniform magnetic fields on the heat transfer and natural convection flow were discussed in detail.