Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects on heat transfer and melting in a large-scale cavity with fins containing gallium considering buoyancy and Lorentz forces

This research investigates the heat transfer and melting rate of gallium within a large-scale finned cavity under the influence of a magnetic field. A two-dimensional mathematical model was developed, and simulations were conducted using a finite volume method-based program to solve the governing equations. Custom numerical functions (UDFs) were incorporated, and a magnetic field ranging from 0 to 0.1 Tesla was applied. The heating wall was maintained at a constant temperature of 43 °C. Key properties analyzed included the liquid fraction, heat flow rate, average cavity temperature, and surface Nusselt numbers. The gallium melting process was monitored over a 60-min period until thermal equilibrium was achieved. The simulation results were validated against experimental data, showing strong agreement. The findings revealed that the application of a magnetic field influences the gallium melting rate, with a 0.1 Tesla magnetic flux reducing the melting rate by 2%. This indicates that Lorentz forces impede heat transfer through natural convection.