Transition of an electromagnetically driven liquid metal flow from laminar to turbulent in a toroidal square duct

Author： Iatridis Alexandros I. Sarris Ioannis E. Vlachos Nicholas S.

E-ISSN： 1286-4854|101|4|44005-44005

ISSN： 0295-5075

Source： EPL (EUROPHYSICS LETTERS), Vol.101, Iss.4, 2013-03, pp. : 44005-44005

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Abstract

The electromagnetically driven liquid metal flow in a toroidal duct of a square cross-section is studied numerically searching for the critical Reynolds (Re) and Hartmann (Ha) numbers where transition occurs. Results are reported for Ha up to 500, building a transition map of critical Reynolds and Hartmann numbers and showing two distinct regimes of transition signified by the destabilization of the secondary flow: The first, for Ha < 18, where the Lorentz force is balanced by fluid momentum diffusion and the second, for Ha ⩾ 18, where it is balanced by fluid inertia. In both cases, the destabilization of the secondary flow occurs primarily near the concave sidewall. For Ha ⩾ 18 the transition follows approximately the relationship Re = 16.803 Ha^1.43 for values of Re and Ha in the range 80 < Re/Ha < 224.