Thermal flow analysis of self-driven temperature-sensitive magnetic fluid around two cylinders arranged in tandem

A temperature-sensitive magnetic fluid (TSMF) is a refrigerant that provides high heat transfer capability and pump-less long-distance heat transfer. The driving force of the self-driving TSMF is produced by the temperature difference and the magnetic field gradient. Due to this principle, expanding the heating area can improve the driving force while promoting the heat exchange efficiency between the heating body and the TSMF. This study focuses on heat flow phenomena and heat transfer around two cylinders arranged in tandem. We used the hybrid Boltzmann method to analyze the thermal flow of a self-driven TSMF and investigate the effect of distance between the two cylinders and the magnetic field magnitude of the heat transfer. The results showed that, when the magnitude of the magnetic field is small, the heat between the cylinders is not easily dissipated, which causes fluctuations in the driving force. The heat flow from the upstream cylinder has a direct effect on the downstream cylinder. A variation of the distance between the cylinders produces two different heat flow phenomena, the first type of heat flow phenomenon is characterized by the movement of heat along the central axis and the second type is the movement of heat from the trailing edge of the upstream cylinder to the trailing edge of the downstream cylinder. Compared with the first type of heat flow phenomenon, the heat transfer effect of the second type of phenomenon is significantly improved. •TSMF is driven by heat from heating cylinders when the magnetic field is applied.•The driving force improved by the magnetic field increase.•The distance between cylinders changes the heat transfer phenomenon.•The downstream cylinder has the interference effect by the heat flow from the upstream cylinder.