Magnetohydrodynamic Applications in Liquid Metal Systems
Summary
Magnetohydrodynamic applications in liquid metal systems harness the interaction between magnetic fields and electrically conducting fluids to achieve precise flow control and efficient heat management. In metallurgical processes, electromagnetic stirring and braking refine alloy microstructures and reduce inclusions during continuous casting and remelting. In fusion energy, liquid metal breeders circulate under intense magnetic fields, where MHD forces govern pressure drops, heat transfer and tritium production, presenting both challenges and opportunities for blanket design. Contactless MHD pumps transport molten salt and eutectic alloys without moving parts, enhancing reliability in high‐temperature environments, while novel angular‐rate sensors exploit flow‐magnetic‐field coupling for ultra‐low‐noise measurement. Ongoing research integrates advanced numerical modelling and experimental diagnostics to mitigate Lorentz-induced resistance, control magneto-convective instabilities and optimise component geometries for global applications in energy, materials processing and sensor technologies.
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Magnetohydrodynamic Applications in Liquid Metal Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in magnetohydrodynamic applications in liquid metal systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD): The study of the dynamics of electrically conducting fluids interacting with magnetic fields.
Lorentz force: The electromagnetic force exerted on moving charged particles in a conducting fluid under a magnetic field.
Hartmann number: A dimensionless parameter quantifying the ratio of electromagnetic to viscous forces in a conducting fluid flow.
Reynolds number: A dimensionless parameter expressing the ratio of inertial to viscous forces, indicating flow regime (laminar or turbulent).
Grashof number: A dimensionless parameter representing the ratio of buoyancy to viscous forces in natural convection.
Flow channel insert (FCI): A structural element placed inside a channel to guide fluid flow, often used to manage MHD effects and heat transfer in blanket systems.
References
- Mapping electro-vortex flow patterns from tornado to inverted tornado in a hemispherical container. International Journal of Thermofluids (2024).
- Physical Background, Computations and Practical Issues of the Magnetohydrodynamic Pressure Drop in a Fusion Liquid Metal Blanket. Fluids (2021).
- Magneto-Convective Analyses of the PbLi Flow for the EU-WCLL Fusion Breeding Blanket. Energies (2021).
- Theoretical and Experimental Study of Radial Velocity Generation for Extending Bandwidth of Magnetohydrodynamic Angular Rate Sensor at Low Frequency. Sensors (2015).
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