Flow Control Mechanism Based on Magnetic Induced Vortex for Reentry Vehicles

Abstract

A novel magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism based on the magnetic induced vortex is proposed to improve the thermal protection performance and aerodynamic performance of reentry vehicles. The magnetic field based on the polygonal coil grid is designed to obtain different vortex forms. Five Lorentz force models are constructed to reveal the MHD interaction mechanisms of the magnetic induced vortex. By numerically solving the low-magneto-Reynolds-number equations, the flowfields of the two-dimensional cylinder and three-dimensional sphere with the different vortex forms are obtained. Two vortex forms are found in the side and head regions of the cylinder, respectively. Under the influence of the vortexes, the high heat flux, which may be higher than the original one, is restricted in the regions near the coil centers in both the two- and three-dimensional cases. About 40% mitigation of total wall heat flux and nearly 60% drag increment are observed in the three-dimensional cases. By changing the switch states of the coils in the different regions, an additional aerodynamic force can be generated for the adjustment of flight attitude and trajectory. Hence, the magnetic induced vortex provides an effective MHD flow control method for reentry vehicles.