Code Validation for Magnetohydrodynamic Buoyant Flow at High Hartmann Number

摘要

In liquid metal fusion blanket, the non-uniform volumetric heat deposited by the fusion neutrons leads to the non-uniform density distribution of liquid metal. With the force of gravity, buoyant flows would happen. In the fusion blanket where the magnetic field is up to 4T or even higher and the Hartmann number is similar to 10(4), these effects caused by the buoyancy will significantly influence the flow and heat transfer characteristics. In this paper, a module for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) buoyant flow at high Hartmann number was added to the code MTC. A current density conservative scheme was used to ensure the conservation of current, and the Boussinesq model was used to simulate the buoyancy force. This code was validated by two benchmarks, and the results showed that it can give an accurate simulation for MHD buoyant flows. Main characteristics of buoyancy effects of MHD flows were investigated, and the suppression of buoyant convection by strong magnetic field was studied to understand how the direction of magnetic field and electric conductivity of wall affects the suppression.