Computational analysis of paramagnetic spherical Fe3O4 nanoparticles under permanent magnetic fields

Abstract

The influence of permanent constant magnetic fields on the paramagnetic nanoparticles motion is analyzed in this study. The numerical model is developed in the OpenFOAM® platform and includes all major forces acting on particles. The model combines Navier Stokes equations for a liquid and Lagrangian kinematics for the nanoparticles and can predict the aggregation of nanoparticles. Several series of simulations are performed under different intensities of the magnetic field and the nanoparticles aggregation formation and motion is analysed for concentrations of 1.125mg/ml,2.25mg/ml and 4.5mg/ml. Furthermore, two different diameter distributions of the particles with μ=0,σ2=0.2 and μ=0,σ2=1 are simulated for the concentration of 1.125mg/ml in order to determined this effect on the aggregations mean length. Results show that both the increase of the magnetic field intensity and the concentration of nanoparticles in the water solution lead to the increase of the mean length of the aggregations. Finally, different distributions of nanoparticles leads to differences of the mean length of aggregations. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.