Design method of automatic energy transport devices based on the thermomagnetic effect of magnetic fluids

The present work is aimed at developing a design method for automatic energy transport devices based on the thermomagnetic effect of magnetic fluids. A model for describing thermomagnetic convection of a temperature-sensitive magnetic fluid in a loop is established, which includes the coupling of the three fundamental phenomena, i.e. magnetic, thermal, and fluid dynamic features. The thermomagnetic convection of the temperature-sensitive magnetic fluid in a loop-shape energy transport device is simulated in the presence of an external magnetic field. Comparison between experimental data and numerical results is carried out to validate the model. The effects of different factors such as input heat load, heat sink temperature and magnetic field distribution along the loop on the performance of the energy transport device are analyzed and discussed according to the numerical simulation results.