Performance of a multigrid three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic generator calculation procedure

Abstract

The formulation and evaluation of a recently developed multigrid finite difference calculation procedure for steady three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows are described. This procedure solves, in primitive variables, the parabolized steady-state MHD equation set, which consists of the mass continuity equation, three momentum equations, the energy equation, the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate equations, and Maxwell's equations using a full approximation storage block implicit multigrid finite difference technique. This new technique is first validated by comparing predicted results with experimental data for supersonic and subsonic Faraday generators. The performance of this technique is then assessed in terms of computational speed and solution accuracy. It is shown that the resolution of Maxwell's elliptical electrical equations is computationally speed limiting. A global improvement factor of 3–5 is obtained by using the multigrid finite difference solution procedure.