Electrovortex flows generated by electrodes localized on the cylinder side wall

S. Mandrykin - I. Kolesnichenko - P. Frick

Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics, Ural Branch of RAS, Perm, Russia

Abstract
An electrovortex flow of gallium alloy generated in a cylindrical cell by two electrodes localized at the side walls is studied experimentally. It is shown that the electrovortex flow in this geometry appears in the entire considered range of the electric current. The flow velocity is low (the maximum bulk velocity is 40 mm/s), but the flow itself is non-stationary at all considered parameters. Even at the lowest current, the flow is not symmetric and its pattern differs from that expected from the channel geometry and location of the electrodes. Application of an external magnetic field, being coaxial to the electrodes, significantly alters the intensity and pattern of the flow. Figs 7, Refs 12.