3D analysis of magneto-convective duct flow in a non-uniform magnetic field

In fusion reactors, liquid metals can be used to extract the nuclear heat, to produce tritium required as fuel component, and to increase the number of neutrons essential for self-sufficient in-situ tritium breeding. The hot fusion plasma that generates large amount of energy is confined away from solid walls by applying an intense magnetic field. As a result, the liquid metal flows in a magnetic environment leading to the induction of electric currents and electromagnetic forces that influence velocity and pressure distribution in the breeder material. The assessment of the feasibility of a blanket design requires the understanding of these magnetohydrodynamic interactions. In the present study the magneto-convective flow in an electrically and thermally conducting rectangular duct exposed to a non-uniform magnetic field is investigated numerically. The impact of magnetic field strength and applied wall heat flux on heat transfer and convective flow features is analyzed. • Numerical study of magneto-convective duct flow in non-uniform magnetic field. • For large Ha or small Gr, the flow becomes stationary when entering the B field. • For smaller Ha or larger Gr, instabilities can extend even in the uniform B region. • The study quantifies the heat transfer in terms of a Nusselt number.