Use of hot-wire sensor techniques in studying liquid metal flow characteristics

I. Platnieks

Institute of Physics, Latvian University, Salaspils-1, LV-2169, Latvia

Abstract
Experience gained at the Institute of Physics of the Latvian Academy of Science in thermoanemometric measurements in liquid metal flows using home-made hot-wire sensors has been discussed. The problems associated with the electrical strength of the insulation, with the prevention of the sensor from dirtying, with the measurements locality degree and the sensitivity of measurements with respect to the direction have been considered, as well as a series of problems linked with the presence of the magnetic field, including those of free convection suppression in the field and the front wake formation in a longitudinal field. Some examples illustrating the application of hot-wire sensor technique to solve several MHD problems have been described. As a new result, the velocity profile measurements data in a fusion reactor model in a strong field of a superconducting solenoid up to 4 T have been presented; these witnessed that strong velocity perturbati6ons even in this case are present. Figs. 9, refs 12.