Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Experimental and numerical study of a high-flowrate, multi-channel permanent magnet pump for sodium

L. Goldšteins¹ , I. Bucenieks¹ , L. Buligins¹ , N. Jēkabsons¹ , K. Kravalis¹ , O. Mikanovskis^1,2

¹ Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera str., Salaspils-1, LV-2169, Latvia
² Faculty of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Riga Technical University, 6B Kipsalas, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia

Abstract
This study investigates a high-flowrate, multi-channel electromagnetic permanent magnet pump (EMP) by comparing experimental and numerical results obtained using an electrical potential (inductionless) method. Experimental data, including pressure, flowrate, power, temperature, and magnet system rotation speed, were collected using EMP in the TESLA-EMP loop at the Institute of Physics, University of Latvia (IPUL) in Salaspils. A numerical calculation under linebreak the same conditions was performed using the COMSOL Multiphysics commercial software. A steady-state MHD calculation, employing the k-ε turbulence model while neglecting the induced magnetic field was performed. The results indicate qualitatively good agreement in the developed pressure under insulating inner wall conditions, suggesting a poor electrical contact between the sub-channels and a relatively low slip magnetic Reynolds number. Figs 9, Refs 4.