An analytical solution to electromagnetically coupled duct flow in MHD
File(s)An analytical solution_paper_published.pdf (3.53 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Bluck, MJ
Wolfendale, MJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The flow of an electrically conducting fluid in an array of square ducts, separated by arbitrary thickness conducting walls, subject to an applied magnetic field is studied. The analytical solution presented here is valid for thick walls and is based on the homogeneous solution obtained by Shercliff (Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc., vol. 49 (01), 1953, pp. 136-144). Arrangements of ducts arise in a number of applications, most notably in fusion blankets, where liquid metal is used both as coolant and for tritium generation purposes. Analytical solutions, such as those presented here, provide insight into the physics and important benchmarking and validation data for computational magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), as well as providing approximate flow parameters for 1D systems codes. It is well known that arrays of such ducts with conducting walls exhibit varying degrees of coupling, significantly affecting the flow. An important practical example is the so-called Madarame problem (Madarame et al., Fusion Technol., vol. 8, 1985, pp. 264-269). In this work analytical results are derived for the relevant hydrodynamic and magnetic parameters for a single duct with thick walls analogous to the Hunt II case. These results are then extended to an array of such ducts stacked in the direction of the applied magnetic field. It is seen that there is a significant coupling affect, resulting in modifications to pressure drop and velocity profile. In certain circumstances, counter-current flow can occur as a result of the MHD effects, even to the point where the mean flow is reversed. Such phenomena are likely to have significant detrimental effects on both heat and mass transfer in fusion applications. The dependence of this coupling on parameters such as conductivities, wall thickness and Hartmann number is studied.
Date Issued
2015-05-25
Date Acceptance
2015-03-27
Citation
Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2015, 771 (1), pp.595-623
ISSN
0022-1120
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Start Page
595
End Page
623
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Volume
771
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2015 Cambridge University Press This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/article/an-analytical-solution-to-electromagnetically-coupled-duct-flow-in-mhd/902FADFCFAB35273CA5E4D25BCDE4920
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Physical Sciences
Mechanics
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Physics
magnetohydrodynamics
materials processing flows
mathematical foundations
MHD and electrohydrodynamics
RECTANGULAR DUCTS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC FLOW
PRESSURE-DROP
CHANNELS
BLANKET
Fluids & Plasmas
01 Mathematical Sciences
09 Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2015-04-23