LAUSR

Abstract Combined natural and thermomagnetic convection heat transfer in ferrofluid surrounding a vertically orientated electrically-heated microwire is experimentally and numerically investigated and compared with the natural convection in de-ionized water. Numerical simulation is validated with the experimental results for de-ionized water. The convective forces are induced by density and magnetic susceptibility changes both due to temperature gradients in the fluid. The results are presented in the form of a transient temperature rise of the wire and streamlines of the induced flow for different electric currents (1–2.5 A) supplied to the wire. We found that as a result of the magnetic field vortices form along the cell and enhance the heat transfer from the wire. The size and number of the vortices depend on the current supplied. The studied phenomenon can have great impact on the research on cooling electronic devices.