A numerical visualization of physical fields in an electromagnetic pump with rotating permanent magnets

Xiaodong Wang^{1, 2} - Yu. Kolesnikov²

¹ College of Materials Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
² Institute of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Ilmenau University of Technology, PO Box 100565, 98684, Ilmenau, Germany

Abstract
An apparatus known as a permanent magnet (PM) pump is developed to drive circular motion of a liquid metal in a channel or in a loop using a rotor with permanent magnets to induce an electromagnetic field. Simulations are performed, in which the full equation set for the magnetohydrodynamic flow is decoupled into the magnetic field and hydrodynamic components. Two types of pumps, a two-rotor pump and a cylindrical pump, are used as examples. The pumps provide insight into visualizing physical fields such as the magnetic field, the eddy current, the electromagnetic force, the local velocity, and the pressure distribution. The operating rotational speed of the two-rotor PM pump type and the effect of using an outer yoke for the cylindrical PM pump type are quantitatively investigated. The driving efficiency is also evaluated in terms of several key parameters. The numerical results can be used to design high performance, optimized PM pumps. Tables 1, Figs 13, Refs 20.