Hydromagnetic convection at a heated semi-infinite vertical plate (Q1820056)

Numerical results are presented for the transient and steady-state velocity field, temperature field, and heat transfer characteristics. These results are obtained by solving the highly nonlinear partial differential equations, describing the conservation of mass, momentum and energy (with variable fluid properties) by an explicit finite-difference method in time-dependent form. Two cases are studied, namely the hydromagnetic (HM) case and the hydrodynamic (HD) case. Values of the velocity components u and v (absolute) in the HD case are larger than those in the HM case. Quite opposite is the phenomenon in the case of the temperature field \(\theta\). Further, the velocity and temperature fields are more prominent in the presence of heat sources than in their absence. Numerical results indicate that the presence of magnetic field delays attainment of the steady-state condition. Furthermore, in the hydromagnetic case, it is observed that the variable fluid-property has almost negligible effect on the flow and heat transfer characteristics, which is contrary to that in the hydrodynamic case.