A liquid metal flume for free surface magnetohydrodynamic experiments

M. D. Nornberg; H. Ji; J. L. Peterson; J. R. Rhoads

doi:10.1063/1.2976109

A liquid metal flume for free surface magnetohydrodynamic experiments

M. D. Nornberg, H. Ji, J. L. Peterson, J. R. Rhoads

Astrophysical Sciences

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12 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present an experiment designed to study magnetohydrodynamic effects in free surface channel flow. The wide aspect ratio channel (the width to height ratio is about 15) is completely enclosed in an inert atmosphere to prevent oxidization of the liquid metal. A custom-designed pump reduces entrainment of oxygen, which was found to be a problem with standard centrifugal and gear pumps. Laser Doppler velocimetry experiments characterize velocity profiles of the flow. Various flow constraints mitigate secondary circulation and end effects on the flow. Measurements of the wave propagation characteristics in the liquid metal demonstrate the surfactant effect of surface oxides and the damping of fluctuations by a cross-channel magnetic field.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	094501
Journal	Review of Scientific Instruments
Volume	79
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2976109
State	Published - 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Instrumentation

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10.1063/1.2976109

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@article{e826b68c31db4d7e8e830ce728ce24d0,

title = "A liquid metal flume for free surface magnetohydrodynamic experiments",

abstract = "We present an experiment designed to study magnetohydrodynamic effects in free surface channel flow. The wide aspect ratio channel (the width to height ratio is about 15) is completely enclosed in an inert atmosphere to prevent oxidization of the liquid metal. A custom-designed pump reduces entrainment of oxygen, which was found to be a problem with standard centrifugal and gear pumps. Laser Doppler velocimetry experiments characterize velocity profiles of the flow. Various flow constraints mitigate secondary circulation and end effects on the flow. Measurements of the wave propagation characteristics in the liquid metal demonstrate the surfactant effect of surface oxides and the damping of fluctuations by a cross-channel magnetic field.",

author = "Nornberg, {M. D.} and H. Ji and Peterson, {J. L.} and Rhoads, {J. R.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by the Department of Energy under contract DE-AC02–76–CH039073. Special thanks go to R. Cutler for designing and building the pump, K. McMurty, A. Gill, and M. Burin for helping with the construction of the channel and diagnostics and for performing the LDV measurements, N. Morley for supplying materials for the magnet construction and design suggestions, R. Woolley for design of the magnet, R. Jensen for compiling information on gallium chemistry, L. Berzak who worked with R. Cava from the Princeton University Chemistry Department on GaInSn purification methods, and C. Weeks who we consulted on the HCl treatment.",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1063/1.2976109",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "79",

journal = "Review of Scientific Instruments",

issn = "0034-6748",

publisher = "American Institute of Physics",

number = "9",

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T1 - A liquid metal flume for free surface magnetohydrodynamic experiments

AU - Nornberg, M. D.

AU - Ji, H.

AU - Peterson, J. L.

AU - Rhoads, J. R.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was funded by the Department of Energy under contract DE-AC02–76–CH039073. Special thanks go to R. Cutler for designing and building the pump, K. McMurty, A. Gill, and M. Burin for helping with the construction of the channel and diagnostics and for performing the LDV measurements, N. Morley for supplying materials for the magnet construction and design suggestions, R. Woolley for design of the magnet, R. Jensen for compiling information on gallium chemistry, L. Berzak who worked with R. Cava from the Princeton University Chemistry Department on GaInSn purification methods, and C. Weeks who we consulted on the HCl treatment.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - We present an experiment designed to study magnetohydrodynamic effects in free surface channel flow. The wide aspect ratio channel (the width to height ratio is about 15) is completely enclosed in an inert atmosphere to prevent oxidization of the liquid metal. A custom-designed pump reduces entrainment of oxygen, which was found to be a problem with standard centrifugal and gear pumps. Laser Doppler velocimetry experiments characterize velocity profiles of the flow. Various flow constraints mitigate secondary circulation and end effects on the flow. Measurements of the wave propagation characteristics in the liquid metal demonstrate the surfactant effect of surface oxides and the damping of fluctuations by a cross-channel magnetic field.

AB - We present an experiment designed to study magnetohydrodynamic effects in free surface channel flow. The wide aspect ratio channel (the width to height ratio is about 15) is completely enclosed in an inert atmosphere to prevent oxidization of the liquid metal. A custom-designed pump reduces entrainment of oxygen, which was found to be a problem with standard centrifugal and gear pumps. Laser Doppler velocimetry experiments characterize velocity profiles of the flow. Various flow constraints mitigate secondary circulation and end effects on the flow. Measurements of the wave propagation characteristics in the liquid metal demonstrate the surfactant effect of surface oxides and the damping of fluctuations by a cross-channel magnetic field.

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DO - 10.1063/1.2976109

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JO - Review of Scientific Instruments

JF - Review of Scientific Instruments

IS - 9

M1 - 094501

ER -

A liquid metal flume for free surface magnetohydrodynamic experiments

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