Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Lorents force induced flow in a cylindrical container

M. D. Marín-Núñez¹ , D. R. Domíguez-Lozoya^1,2 , E. Ramos¹ , S. Cuevas¹ , A. Beltrán³

¹ Instituto de Energís Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62580 Temixco, Mor. Mexico
² Facultad de Ciencias Fíco-Matemáticas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, 80010 Culiacán, Sin. Mexico
³ Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 58190 Morelia, Mich. Mexico

Abstract
An experimental electrolyte flow inside a cylindrical cavity promoted by a Lorentz force created by external electric currents and a magnetic field applied in the axial direction is discussed. The Lorentz force produces an azimuthal swirling flow that gives rise to a secondary poloidal flow. Supported by numerical simulations we found that a three-dimensional flow can be interpreted as being partially composed by toroidal orbits. The flows studied have common features with electrovortex flows, and it is expected that this study can contribute to their understanding. Figs 6, Refs 5.