Three Dimensional Numerical Study of the Interaction of Turbulent Liquid Metal Flow with an External Magnetic Field

G. Pulugundla[1], M. Zec[2], and A. Alferenok[3]
[1]Institute of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
[2]Department of Advanced Electromagnetics, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
[3]Electrothermal Energy Conversion Group, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
Published in 2011

Lorentz Force Velocimetry (LFV) is a non-contact measurement technique used to determine flow rates in electrically conducting fluids by exposing the flow to an external magnetic field and measuring the Lorentz force acting on the magnet system. Typically, for LFV applications real and complex permanent magnet systems with inhomogeneous magnetic fields interact with the fluid.

In this paper, we numerically study such an interaction and evaluate the total Lorentz force as a function flow Reynolds number and the distance between magnet and fluid. The analyses provide good reference results for the numerical calibration of Lorentz force velocimeters. Finally, the study could be used for validating the numerical tool, COMSOL Multiphysics, for liquid metal based magnetohydrodynamic applications.

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