Dry calibration of the Lorentz force flowmeter

V. Minchenya - Ch. Karcher - Yu. Kolesnikov - A. Thess

Institute of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Ilmenau University of Technology, PO Box 10 05 65, D-98684 Ilmenau, Germany

Abstract
Lorentz force velocimetry is a technique for non-contact measurement of the flow rate in electrically conducting fluids like high-temperature liquid metal alloys. Before application, a proper calibration of the flowmeter is necessary. However, it is difficult to reproduce conditions typical of application in a laboratory environment. Therefore, we propose a simplified method, in which the working fluid is replaced by an electrically conducting moving solid, a method of dry calibration. It allows us to evaluate the basic uncertainties of the Lorentz force flowmeter (LFF) without the influence of the liquid flow dynamics. This is an introductory work presenting the main concept of the dry calibration of Lorentz force flowmeters. Tables 6, Figs 6, Refs 6.