Experiment and simulation of laminar and turbulent ferrofluid pipe flow in an oscillating magnetic field

Kristopher R. Schumacher; Inga Sellien; G. Stuart Knoke; Tahir Cader; Bruce A. Finlayson

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.67.026308

Experiment and simulation of laminar and turbulent ferrofluid pipe flow in an oscillating magnetic field

Kristopher R. Schumacher, Inga Sellien, G. Stuart Knoke, Tahir Cader, and Bruce A. Finlayson

Phys. Rev. E 67, 026308 – Published 13 February 2003

Abstract

Laminar and turbulent pipe flow of a ferrofluid with an imposed linearly polarized, oscillating, magnetic field is examined here. Experimental results show a fractional pressure drop dependence on flow rate, magnetic field strength, and oscillation frequency. Calculations are presented, which show that ferrofluid theory can explain the flow phenomena in laminar and turbulent pipe flow. The model requires an initial fit of key parameters but then shows predictive capability in both laminar and turbulent flow. Simulation results are found to be essentially independent of the spin boundary condition due to an approximation of spin viscosity that is very small. A low Reynolds number k-ɛ model is used to model the turbulent pipe flow.

Received 5 August 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.67.026308

Authors & Affiliations

Kristopher R. Schumacher and Inga Sellien^*

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1750

G. Stuart Knoke and Tahir Cader^†

Energy International Inc., 127 Bellevue Way SE, Bellevue, Washington 98004-6229

Bruce A. Finlayson^‡

Department of Chemical Engineering, Box 351750, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1750

^*Present address: DECHEMA e.V., Karl-Winnacker-Institut, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
^†Present address: Isothermal Systems Research, 511 $3^{rd}$ Street, Pullman, WA 99403.
^‡Corresponding author. Email address: finlayson@cheme.washington.edu

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Vol. 67, Iss. 2 — February 2003

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