Large eddy simulation of magnetohydrodynamic turbulent flow in an electrically conducting circular pipe with V-shaped strips

Abstract

Pressure drops and velocity distributions of liquid metal MHD flow in pipes are closely related to the geometry of the cross-section. Liquid metal flows in two types of electrically conducting circular pipes under a uniform magnetic field applied transversely to the flow are investigated numerically using large eddy simulation with a coherent structure model developed in the OpenFOAM environment. One pipe has a typical circular cross-section (N-pipe), whereas the other has four V-shaped strips at the wall parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field (F-pipe). The increasing transverse magnetic field causes a turbulent MHD flow evolves into a single-sided turbulent flow and a laminar flow in the N-pipe. The V-shaped strips on the Hartmann wall generate a low-velocity belt along the magnetic field direction in the center of the pipe and weak high-velocity jets near the V-shaped strips. Furthermore, the inflection points in the velocity profile improve instability and turbulence. The root mean square of the velocity fluctuation, in particular, the transverse components increase with the Hartmann number increasing along the magnetic field direction in the F-pipe. The V-shaped strips delay the MHD turbulent-laminar transition. However, the skin friction coefficient is slightly higher in the F-pipe than in the N-pipe, with the same dimensionless parameters. The research results can be applied to the turbulence promoter in the MHD pipe flow. Key words: Magnetohydrodynamic turbulent flow, large eddy simulation, pipe, V-shaped strips. Tables 5, Figs 9, Refs 23.