A liquid metal MHD vortex generator for energy harvesting applications

M. Rivero¹ - R. A. Ávalos-Zúñiga² - S. Cuevas³

¹ Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701, Col. Ex Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, Morelia, Michoacán 58190, México
² Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnolog\'ia Avanzada, Unidad Querétaro, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Cerro Blanco No.141 Col. Colinas del Cimatario, Querétaro 76090, México
³ Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A. P. 34, Temixco, Morelos 62580 México

Abstract
Liquid metal (LM) technologies for energy harvesting are gaining attention due to their unique properties. An LM vortex magnetohydrodynamic generator is a suitable and robust option among different approaches used for energy harvesting. In this device, LM is driven into a cylindrical cavity to produce a swirling flow, interacting with an imposed axial magnetic field and inducing electric currents that can be extracted to power an external electrical system. However, to maximize the power output, the effect of the electrical resistance on the flow dynamics and electrical parameters must be evaluated. Here, an evaluation is carried out with both the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics and a theoretical model, whose results are partially validated with the experimental data obtained from a device built for this purpose. In addition, the effect of the electrode size on the global electrical variables, such as voltage, current and electrical power, is investigated numerically. Figs 5, Refs 9.