Optimization of magnetic amplification by flow constraints in turbulent liquid sodium

Journal Article · Thu May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4875335· OSTI ID:22252904

Taylor, N. Z.; Forest, C. B. ^[1]; Rahbarnia, K. ^[2]; Kaplan, E. ^[3]

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1. Center for Magnetic-Self Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)
2. Max-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik Wendelsteinstraße 1, D-17491 Greifswald (Germany)
3. Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, P.O. Box 510119, D-01314 Dresden (Germany)

Direct measurements of the vector turbulent emf in a driven two-vortex flow of liquid sodium were performed in the Madison Dynamo Experiment [K. Rahbarnia et al., Astrophys. J. 759, 80 (2012)]. The measured turbulent emf is anti-parallel with the mean current and is almost entirely described by an enhanced resistivity, which increases the threshold for a kinematic dynamo. We have demonstrated that this enhanced resistivity can be mitigated by eliminating the largest-scale eddies through the introduction of baffles. By tailoring the flow to reduce large-scale components and control the helical pitch, we have reduced the power required to drive the impellers, doubled the magnetic flux generated by differential rotation, and increased the decay time of externally applied magnetic fields. Despite these improvements, the flows remain sub-critical to the dynamo instability due to the reemergence of turbulent fluctuations at high flow speeds.

• OSTI ID: 22252904
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 21; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BAFFLES
CONTROL
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE
FLUCTUATIONS
LIMITING VALUES
LIQUIDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
OPTIMIZATION
PITCHES
SODIUM