Experiments with turbulent rotating MHD flows in an annular gap

B. Mikhailovich¹ - A. Shapiro³ - S. Sukoriansky^1,2 - I. Zilberman¹

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
² Perlstone Center for Aeronautical Engineering Studies, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
³ Energetics Technologies Ltd., Omer, Israel

Abstract
Results of experimental study of rotating turbulent liquid metal MHD flow in an annular gap bounded by electrically conducting coaxial cylindrical walls and insulating top and bottom walls are presented. The flow is generated by electromagnetic body forces caused by a radial electric field and by an axial magnetic field. Velocity components of the flow after the electric field was off are measured using a potential probe. The decay of mean velocity components and turbulent fluctuations and the peculiarities of spectral characteristics in such flows have been investigated. Figs 6, Refs 13.