FLOW AND HEAT-TRANSFER IN A MOLTEN SOIL POOL INDUCED BY ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS GENERATED BY THERMAL PLASMAS

The combined effects of externally applied electromagnetic fields from an electric are and temperature difference on the natural convection inside a molten soil pool are studied. Domain decomposition method is used with Chebyshev collocation method to obtain the solutions for the governing equations. Darcy's law and Boussinesq approximation are use d. Parametric investigations are given to dimensionless physical prope rties identified as Darcy, Eckert, Hartman, and Rayleigh numbers. Effe cts of the each dimensionless number are discussed with obtained elect ric, how, and temperature fields solutions. It is found that the Ecker t and the Hartman numbers are important parameters of determining Joul ean heat dissipation in the molten soil pool. The Hartman number effec ts on the Joulean heat dissipation are an order higher than those of t he Eckert number under the electromagnetic fields.