Numerical Study of a DC Electromagnetic Liquid Metal Pump: Limits of the Model

N. Kandev[1]
[1]Institut de recherche d'Hydro-Québec, Shawinigan, QC, Canada
Published in 2012

This work presents the results of a 3D numerical magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of an electromagnetic DC pump for liquid metal using a rectangular metal flow channel subjected to an externally imposed transversal inhomogeneous magnetic field. In this study. 3D numerical simulation based on the finite element method was carried out using the computer package COMSOL Multiphysics 3.5a. The application and the limits of the electromagnetic and the hydrodynamic models are discussed herein. The results of two typical examples are summarized here, including laminar brake flow and pumping conditions for turbulent metal flow. These simulations accurately represent the formation of an M shaped velocity profile of liquid metal and are consistent with the results of recently published experimental and theoretical works.