Mohammed Q. Al-Odat¹, Rebhi A. Damseh² and Moh'd A. Al-Nimr³

¹ Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, P.O. Box 340558 Amman 11134 Jordan.
Tel: +9626-4892345; Fax: +9626-4892345; E-mail: [email protected]
² Mechanical Engineering Department, Al-Husn University College Al-Balqa Applied University, Irbid-Jordan.
³ Mechanical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid-Jordan.

Received: 9 February 2004 / Accepted: 5 June 2004 / Published: 5 June 2004

Abstract: Magnetic field effect on local entropy generation due to steady two-dimensional laminar forced convection flow past a horizontal plate was numerically investigated. This study was focused on the entropy generation characteristics and its dependency on various dimensionless parameters. The effect of various dimensionless parameters, such as Hartmann number (Ha), Eckert number (Ec), Prandtl number (Pr), Joule heating parameter (R) and the free stream temperature parameter (Θ_∞) on the entropy generation characteristics is analyzed. The dimensionless governing equations in Cartesian coordinate were solved by an implicit finite difference technique. The solutions were carried out for Ha²=0.5-3, Ec=0.01-0.05, Pr=1-5 and Θ_∞=1.1-2.5. It was found that, the entropy generation increased with increasing Ha, Ec and R. While, increasing the free stream temperature parameter, and Prandtl number tend to decrease the local entropy generation.

Keywords: forced convection; magnetic field; joule heating; entropy generation.