Numerical and theoretical framework for the DRESDYN precession dynamo experiment

F. Pizzi^1,2 - A. Giesecke¹ - J. Šimkanin³ - V. Kumar¹ - T. Gundrum¹ - F. Stefani¹

¹ Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Fluid Dynamics, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany
² Department of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus-Senftenberg, 03046 Cottbus, Germany
³ Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Boċní II/1401, 141 31 Praha 4 -- Spořilov, Czech Republic

Abstract
The upcoming DRESDYN (DREsden Sodium facility for DYNnamo and thermohydraulic studies) precession experiment will test the possibility to achieve magnetohydrodynamic dynamo action solely driven by precession. Here, after the description of the experimental facility, we present the results from direct numerical simulations with the aim to understand the flow behavior and its dynamo capability. The main conclusion is that in the nonlinear regime the nutation angle is an essential governing parameter which determines the flow structures and the possibility of dynamo action. We obtain clear indications about the optimum configuration for the future experimental runs. Figs 5, Refs 17.