Experimental and theoretical research on disc-shaped induction-type MHD pumps with permanent magnets

A. Brēķis^1,2 - A. Shishko¹ - I. Bucenieks¹ - K. Kravalis¹ - O. Mikanovskis¹ - L. Buligins¹

¹ Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, Salaspils, Latvia
² Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia

Abstract
Magnetohydrodynamic pumps with permanent magnets are a promising technology for liquid metal transportation using the electromagnetic interaction between an electrically conducting fluid and a magnetic field. This paper presents a numerical 3D magnetic field distribution which is compared with an experimentally measured magnetic field mapping in the liquid metal (Na) channel. With a solid body approximation, this data is further used to calculate the pump pressure-flowrate characteristics by an electrodynamic approach. Agreement was obtained with the measured pressure-flowrate characteristics when testing an electromagnetic pump prototype. The test was conducted in the newly designed sodium loop at the Institute of Physics of the University of Latvia (IPUL). Key words: Electromagnetic induction pumps, permanent magnets, liquid sodium. Figs 14, Refs 17.