Magnetic field effects on natural convection flow of a non-Newtonian fluid in an L-shaped enclosure

The effect of magnetic field on natural convection heat transfer in an L-shaped enclosure filled with a non-Newtonian fluid is investigated numerically. The governing equations are solved by finite-volume method using the SIMPLE algorithm. The power-law rheological model is used to characterize the non-Newtonian fluid behavior. It is revealed that heat transfer rate decreases for shear-thinning fluids (of power-law index, n < 1) and increases for shear-thickening fluids (n > 1) in comparison with the Newtonian ones. Thermal behavior of shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids is similar to that of Newtonian fluids for the angle of enclosure α < 60° and α > 60°, respectively.