MHD thermofluid flow simulation of channels with a uniform thermal load as applied to HCLL breeding blankets for fusion technology

E. Mas de les Valls^1,2 - L. Batet^1,3 - V. de Medina^1,4 - L. A. Sedano⁵

¹ Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
² Technology for Fusion (T4F), GEENER, Department of Heat Engines
³ Technology for Fusion (T4F), GEENER, Deptartment of Physics and Nuclear Engineering
⁴ Sediment Transport Research Group (GITS), Deptartment of Hydraulic, Marine and Environmental Engineering
⁵ EURATOM-CIEMAT Association, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract
Lead lithium flowing inside breeding blanket's channels in a fusion reactor is subject to a Hartmann number of  ∼ 10⁴ and a Grashof number  ∼ 10⁹−10¹². Since under such conditions buoyancy can be of the same order of magnitude as the electromagnetic force, a deep understanding of the coupled phenomena is required. In the present study, a horizontal channel with dimensions, mean velocity and thermal load taken from HCLL blanket design and considering a Hartmann number of 3000 is analysed using different thermal strategies. The unstable nature of the resulting flow is studied as well as its influence on relevant thermal parameters. Tables 2, Figs 7, Refs 19.