Magnetohydrodynamic flow in stepwise bent circular pipes

Abstract

Asymptotic analyses and numerical simulations have been performed to predict liquid metal flow in an electrically conducting circular pipe that exhibits stepwise bends in a strong uniform magnetic field. The present work is motivated by applications in nuclear fusion engineering, where such step-shaped double bends are foreseen in the shield behind the liquid metal test blanket module [1] that will be tested in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Although the geometry is relatively simple, quite complex and unexpected flow patterns are observed, depending on the orientation of the magnetic field. For that reason, the present type of flow constitutes an interesting fundamental problem in magnetohydrodynamics. Figs 6, Refs 17.