MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) flow tailoring in first wall coolant channels of self-cooled blankets

MHD flow tailoring, the use of salient features of MHD flows in strong magnetic fields to create desirable velocity profiles in single ducts, presents the possibility of significant reduction in blanket complexity and cost, and enhancement of thermal hydraulic performance. A particular form of flow tailoring, involving ducts with alternating expansions and contractions lends itself to the design of first wall coolant ducts. The potential benefits of this configuration and its immediate applicability to blanket design have made it the choice as the first joint Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)/Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe (KfK) test on liquid metal MHD. Testing is being carried out at ANL's ALEX facility on a test article fabricated at KfK. A description of the test article, its important features, and the associated instrumentation are presented. A fully 3-D code capable of treating MHD flows in ducts of complex geometry has been developed and used in the flow tailoring experiements. The features and capabilities of the code are discussed and a sample of the code predictions for the geometry and conditions of the experiments are presented. A sample of the preliminary test results from the ongoing testing is also given. 9 refs., 9 figs