An Analysis of a Laminar-Turbulent Transition and Thermal Plumes Behavior in a Paramagnetic Fluid Subjected to an External Magnetic Field

Transition to turbulence and changes in the fluid flow structure are subjects of continuous analysis and research, especially for unique fields of research such as the thermo-magnetic convection of weakly magnetic fluids. Therefore, an experimental and numerical research of the influence of an external magnetic field on a natural convection’s fluid flow was conducted in the presented research. The experimental part was performed for an enclosure with a 0.5 aspect ratio, which was filled with a paramagnetic fluid and placed in a superconducting magnet in a position granting the enhancement of the flow. The process was recorded as temperature signals from the thermocouples placed in the analyzed fluid. The numerical research enabled an investigation based not only on temperature, but velocities as well. Experimental and numerical data were analyzed with the application of extended fast Fourier transform and wavelet analysis. The obtained results allowed the determination of changes in the nature of the flow and visualization of the influence of an imposed strong magnetic field on a magnetic fluid. It is proved that an applied magnetic field actuates the flow in Rayleigh-Benard convection and causes the change from laminar to turbulent flow for fairly low magnetic field inductions (2T and 3T for ΔT = 5 and 11 °C respectively). Fast Fourier transform allowed the definition of characteristic frequencies for oscillatory states in the flow, as well as an observation that the high values of magnetic field elongate the inertial range of the flow on the power spectrum density. Temperature maps obtained during numerical simulations granted visualizations of thermal plume formation and behavior with increasing magnetic field.