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Magnetohydrodynamic channel flow with a nonuniform magnetic field and conductive walls

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5160993

Magnetofluidynamic (MFD) channel flow is analyzed in the combined presence of a nonuniform applied magnetic field and electrically conducting side wall. The configuration is representative of actual MFD devices. The overall analysis involves the solution of the coupled Maxwell and complete term Navier-Stokes equations for the fluid fields and wall currents. The main assumptions consider the MFD flow to be steady, two-dimensional, incompressible, and with low magnetic Reynolds number. The equations are solved numerically by a Galerkin finite-element formulation. Velocity, pressure, and electric-potential distributions are calculated for given values of Reynolds number, interaction parameter, and wall conductance. The nonuniform applied magnetic field is found to distort the axial velocity into M-shaped profiles for being maintained through the pump central region and persisting for many electrode spacings downstream. The fluid pressure at the wall experiences a sharp increase over the centerline pressure (pinch effect) near the electrode edges. Conducting walls tend to attenuate the pressure pinches, slightly reduce axial velocity maxima, and somewhat increase the overall axial pressure rise.

Research Organization:
Carnegie-Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5160993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English