Title: A computational approach for the solution of the MHD and thermal flow of a liquid metal between two horizontal concentric cylinders

Authors: P.M. Hatzikonstantinou; P.A. Bakalis

Addresses: Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, 26504, Greece ' Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, 26504, Greece

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to study the fully developed laminar magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and thermal flow of an electrically conducting liquid metal between two horizontal concentric cylinders, maintained at uniform temperatures, under the effect of an external transverse magnetic field. The temperature difference between the walls creates buoyancy force, due to density variations. Three different models are compared for the solution of the electromagnetic variables. The φ-formulation, based on the electric potential equation, the b-formulation, based on the induced magnetic field and the hybrid h-formulation. A numerical method, based on the continuity vorticity pressure (CVP) variational method, is used for the coupling of the magnetohydrodynamic equations.

Keywords: concentric cylinders; finite difference method; Hartmann number; incompressible flow; magnetohydrodynamics; laminar MHD; CVP variational method; thermal flow; liquid metals; electromagnetic variables; continuity vorticity pressure.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2014.063862

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2014 Vol.14 No.4, pp.259 - 267

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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