Experimental investigation of MHD effects on lead flow

The presence of a strong magnetic field in tokamaks leads to Magneto Hydro Dynamic (MHD) Lorentz force effects, which fundamentally impact the heat transfer characteristics of a liquid metal flow. The effect of MHD on the flow characteristics is of utmost importance for the design and performance of liquid breeder blankets, but the field is relatively poorly understood. Studies of these MHD effects started already in the early '80s. However, in most cases, the experimental setups were of relatively simple geometry (typical single rectangular or circular test section). Thus, there is very limited experimental data for multiple parallel or crossflow channels, which are more relevant to the actual breeder blanket design. The project will provide feedback to existing blanket designs as well as experimental data for mathematical model validation.
The proposed study is expected to provide a new and deeper understanding of the prediction of MHD effects on fusion-relevant flows and heat-exchangers and guidance for increasing thermal performance of blankets, which can improve the design and viability of fusion reactors.