A new analytical study of MHD stagnation-point flow in porous media with heat transfer

The similarity solution for the MHD Hiemenz flow against a flat plate with variable wall temperature in a porous medium gives a system of nonlinear partial differential equations. These equations are solved analytically by using a novel analytical method (DTM-Padé technique which is a combination of the differential transform method and the Padé approximation). This method is applied to give solutions of nonlinear differential equations with boundary conditions at infinity. Graphical results are presented to investigate influence of the Prandtl number, permeability parameter, Hartmann number and suction/blowing parameter on the velocity and temperature profiles.     

Blow-up phenomena in porous medium equation systems with nonlinear boundary conditions

This paper deals with the blow-up phenomena for the following porous medium equation systems with nonlinear boundary conditions $\left\{\begin{array}{cc}{u}_t=\Delta u^m+k_1\left(t\right)f_1\left(v\right),v_t=\Delta v^n+k_2\left(t\right)f_2\left(u\right)\hfill & in\Omega \times (0,t^1),\hfill \\ \hfill \\ \hfill \\ \frac{?u}{?\nu }=g_1\left(u\right),\frac{?v}{?\nu }=g_2\left(v\right)\hfill & on?\Omega \times (0,t^1),\hfill \\ \hfill \\ \hfill \\ u(x,0)=u_0\left(x\right)\ge 0,v(x,0)=v_0\left(x\right)\ge 0\hfill & in\overline{\Omega },\hfill \end{array}\right.$ where $m,n>1$, $\Omega ?{\mathbb{R}}^N(N\ge 2)$ is bounded convex domain with smooth boundary. Using a differential inequality technique and a Sobolev inequality, we prove that under certain conditions on data, the solution blows up in finite time. We also derive an upper and a lower bound for blow-up time. In addition, as applications of the abstract results obtained in this paper, an example is given.     

Mortar finite element discretization for the flow in a nonhomogeneous porous medium

Darcy’s equations model the flow of a viscous incompressible fluid in a rigid porous medium. One of the parameters of the system depends on the permeability of the medium and, when this medium is not homogeneous, the variations of the parameter could be very high. To handle this phenomenon, we propose a discretization of the model that relies on the mortar finite element method. Indeed, the idea is to construct a decomposition of the domain such that the permeability is constant on each element of the partition and to use independent meshes on the different subdomains. We perform the a priori and a posteriori analysis of this discretization and present some numerical experiments which are in good coherency with the results of the analysis.     

MHD flow in a rectangular duct with a perturbed boundary

The unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a viscous, incompressible and electrically conducting fluid in a rectangular duct with a perturbed boundary, is investigated. A small boundary perturbation $\epsilon$ is applied on the upper wall of the duct which is encountered in the visualization of the blood flow in constricted arteries. The MHD equations which are coupled in the velocity and the induced magnetic field are solved with no-slip velocity conditions and by taking the side walls as insulated and the Hartmann walls as perfectly conducting. Both the domain boundary element method (DBEM) and the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) are used in spatial discretization with a backward finite difference scheme for the time integration. These MHD equations are decoupled first into two transient convection–diffusion equations, and then into two modified Helmholtz equations by using suitable transformations. Then, the DBEM or DRBEM is used to transform these equations into equivalent integral equations by employing the fundamental solution of either steady-state convection–diffusion or modified Helmholtz equations. The DBEM and DRBEM results are presented and compared by equi-velocity and current lines at steady-state for several values of Hartmann number and the boundary perturbation parameter.     

Vortex instability of MHD natural convection flow over a horizontal plate in a porous medium

The present work investigates the vortex instability of a horizontal MHD natural convection boundary layer flow in a saturated porous medium including the radiation effect. The numerical results are solves by Keller-Box method incorporated with linear stability theory. The velocity and temperature profiles, local Nusselt number, as well as instability parameters for magnetic parameter M ranging from 0 to 2 and radiation parameter R ranging from 0 to 0.03 are presented. Numerical results showed that, as magnetic parameter M increases or radiation parameter R decreases, the heat transfer rate decrease. In addition, the magnetic effect destabilizes the flow to vortex mode of disturbance, while the radiation effect stabilizes it.     

MHD channel flow control in 2D: Mixing enhancement by boundary feedback

A nonlinear Lyapunov-based boundary feedback control law is proposed for mixing enhancement in a 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) channel flow, also known as Hartmann flow, which is electrically conducting, incompressible, and subject to an external transverse magnetic field. The MHD model is a combination of the Navier-Stokes PDE and the Magnetic Induction PDE, which is derived from the Maxwell equations. Pressure sensors, magnetic field sensors, and micro-jets embedded into the walls of the flow domain are employed for mixing enhancement feedback. The proposed control law, designed using passivity ideas, is optimal in the sense that it maximizes a measure related to mixing (which incorporates stretching and folding of material elements), while at the same time minimizing the control and sensing efforts. A DNS code is developed, based on a hybrid Fourier pseudospectral-finite difference discretization and the fractional step technique, to numerically assess the controller.     

Falkner–Skan wedge flow of a power-law fluid with mixed convection and porous medium

This article describes the mixed convection flow of a non-Newtonian fluid past a wedge. An incompressible power-law fluid occupies the porous space. The arising mathematical problem has been solved by homotopy analysis method (HAM). Convergence of the derived solution is checked. The local skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are also discussed.     

Natural convection boundary layer of a non-Newtonian fluid about a permeable vertical cone embedded in a porous medium saturated with a nanofluid

An analysis was performed to study the effect of uniform transpiration velocity on free convection boundary-layer flow of a non-Newtonian fluid over a permeable vertical cone embedded in a porous medium saturated with a nanofluid. The model used for the nanofluid incorporates the effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into a set of non-similar equations and solved numerically by an efficient implicit, iterative, finite-difference method. Comparisons with previously published work are performed and excellent agreement is obtained. A parametric study of the physical parameters is conducted and a representative set of numerical results for the velocity, temperature, and volume fraction profiles as well as the local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers is illustrated graphically to show interesting features of the solutions.     

Three-dimensional simulations of MHD generator coupling with outer resistance circuit

The authors conduct fully-developed three-dimensional numerical simulations of a MHD generator coupling with outer resistance circuit. Instead of considering the MHD generator as a constant voltage source or a constant flow source, a simple and effective iteration is provided and successfully practiced to simulate the interaction between the MHD generator and the outer circuit so that they obey the Ohm’s Law and the Kirchhoff’s Law with sufficient accuracy set by user. The objective of this research is to have more detailed knowledge of the characteristics of MHD generators with incompressible medium, including the spatial variances of velocity and electromagnetic variables. In the calculations, two significant non-dimensional parameters Hac and Rec, whose influences on velocity and electromagnetic variables are elaborately discussed, are deduced from the governing equations. In general, Hac, proportional to the applied magnetic field, has negative effects on the variables discussed but Rec, corresponding to the driven pressure, has opposite effects.     

MHD flow with heat and mass transfer of Williamson nanofluid over stretching sheet through porous medium

Microsystem Technologies - Two-dimensional hydromagnetic flow of an incompressible Williamson nanofluid over a stretching sheet in a porous media is examined during this work. Convective heat and...     

The impact of side walls on the MHD flow of a second-grade fluid through a porous medium

The magnetohydrodynamic flow through a porous medium of a second-grade fluid between two side walls induced by an infinite plate that exerts an accelerated shear stress to the fluid over an infinite plate is examined. Expressions for velocity and shear stress are determined with the help of integral transforms. In the absence of side walls, all the solutions that have been obtained are reduced to those corresponding to the motion over an infinite flat plate. The Newtonian solutions are also obtained as limiting case of the general solution. Finally, influence of magnetic and porosity parameter is graphically highlighted.

     

Computation of MHD flow due to moving boundaries

A non-iterative numerical scheme is presented which computes in a single iteration the steady, laminar flow of a viscous, incompressible, electrically conducting fluid caused by moving boundaries in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. It also eliminates the possible error induced by taking the value of numerical infinity (representing the unbounded domain of the flow) as a finite number. The scheme is based on implicit use of infinite series of exponentials for velocity components. The issue of convergence of these series is also discussed. An asymptotic solution valid for large values of M, the Hartmann number, and an approximate solution valid for any value of M are further developed. In particular, the case of axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow due to a stretching sheet has been dealt with in some detail. A comparison has been made of the merits of various techniques used in the paper and appropriate conclusions are drawn.     

Mesoscale SPH modeling of fluid flow in isotropic porous media

A novel numerical technique—Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is used to model the fluid flow in isotropic porous media. The porous structure is resolved in a mesoscopic-level by randomly assigning certain portion of SPH particles to fixed locations. A repulsive force, similar in form to the 12-6 Lennard-Jones potential between atoms, is set in place to mimic the interactions between fluid and porous structure. This force is initiated from the fixed porous material particle and may act on its nearby moving fluid particles. In this way, the fluid is directed to pass through the porous structure in physically reasonable paths. For periodic porous systems formed by intersecting solid material with straight parallel fluid channels, the Kozeny formula of permeability was reproduced successfully, which, to a great extent, validates the reliability of the developed SPH model. Further, SPH simulations for the fluid flows induced by an applied streamwise body force in two-dimensional porous structures of different porosities are performed. The macroscopic Darcy's law is confirmed to be valid only in the creeping flow regime. The derived relationship of permeability versus porosity is compared with some existing numerical results/experimental data, which demonstrates that the present SPH model is able to capture the essential features of the fluid flow in porous media.     

Numerical simulation of the MHD equations by a kinetic-type method

We introduce a flux-splitting formula for the approximation of the ideal MHD equations in conservative form. The Faraday equation is considered as the average of an abstract kinetic equation, giving a flux-splitting formula. For the other part of the equations, we generalize formally the classical half-Maxwellian flux-splitting of the Euler equations. Numerical results on MHD shock tube problems are displayed.     

Reactive silica transport in fractured porous media: Analytical solution for a single fracture

A general analytical solution is derived by using the Laplace transformation to describe transient reactive silica transport in a conceptualized 2-D system involving a single fracture embedded in an impervious host rock matrix. This solution differs from previous analyses in that it takes into account both hydrodynamic dispersion and advection of silica transport along the fracture, and hence takes the form of an infinite integral. Several illustrative calculations are undertaken to confirm that neglecting the dispersion term may lead to erroneous silica distribution along the fracture and within the host matrix, and the error becomes severe with a smaller rate of fluid flow in the fracture. The longitudinal dispersion is negligible only at steady state or when the flow rate in the fracture is higher. The analytical solution can serve as a benchmark to validate numerical models that simulate reactive mass transport in fractured porous media.     

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a micropolar fluid towards a stagnation point on a vertical surface

The steady MHD mixed convection stagnation point flow towards a vertical surface immersed in an incompressible micropolar fluid is investigated. The external velocity impinges normal to the wall and the wall temperature is assumed to vary linearly with the distance from the stagnation point. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations, which is then solved numerically by a finite-difference method. The features of the flow and heat transfer characteristics for different values of the governing parameters are analyzed and discussed. Both assisting and opposing flows are considered. It is found that dual solutions exist for the assisting flow, besides that usually reported in the literature for the opposing flow.     

Combined Lattice Boltzmann and phase-field simulations for incompressible fluid flow in porous media

A Lattice-Boltzmann method for incompressible fluid flow is coupled with the dynamic equations of a phase-field model for multiple order parameters. The combined model approach is applied to computationally evaluate the permeability in porous media. At the boundaries between the solid and fluid phases of the porous microstructure, we employ a smooth formulation of a bounce-back condition related to the diffuse profile of the interfaces. We present simulations of fluid flow in both, static porous media with stationary non-moving interfaces and microstructures performing a dynamic evolution of the phase and grain boundaries. For the latter case, we demonstrate applications to dissolving grain structures with partial melt inclusions and computationally analyse the temporal evolution of the microporosity under wetting conditions at the melt-grain boundaries. In any development state of the material, the Darcy number and the hydraulic conductivity of the porous medium are evaluated for various types of fluid.