Flow structure, heat transfer and scaling analysis in the case of thermo-magnetic convection in a differentially heated cylindrical enclosure

The experimental, numerical and scaling analysis in the case of thermo-magnetic convection in a thermosyphon-like enclosure filled with a paramagnetic fluid is presented. Visualization of temperature field together with the numerical simulation gave an information about the flow structure, which indicated "finger-like" structures of hot and cold streams advecting each other. Their number depended on the Rayleigh number and also on the magnetic induction. In the basis of thermal measurements the average Nusselt number was determined for various strength of magnetic field and in presented configuration increasing magnetic field caused increase in the Nusselt number. With the assumptions of two dimensional flow and the constant fluid properties, in the studied temperature range, the scaling analysis led to the Nusselt number correlation in dependence on the thermo-magnetic Rayleigh number. Very good agreement between the experimental results and scaling equation was observed.