Natural convection heat transfer of a nanofluid in the presence of an electric
field is investigated. The control volume finite element method (CVFEM) is
utilized to simulate this problem. A Fe3O4–ethylene glycol nanofluid is used
as the working fluid. The effect of the electric field on nanofluid viscosity is
taken into account. Numerical investigation is conducted for several values
of Rayleigh number, nanoparticle volume fraction, and the voltage supplied.
The numerical results show that the voltage used can change the flow
shape. The Coulomb force causes the isotherms to become denser near the
bottom wall. Heat transfer rises with increase in the voltage supplied and
Rayleigh number. The effect of electric field on heat transfer is more
pronounced at low Rayleigh numbers due to the predomination of the
conduction mechanism.
