Numerical simulation of unsteady MHD flows and applications

This paper presents preliminary results on a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow in a prototypic distribution and collection manifold relevant to the Dual Coolant Lead Lithium (DCLL) blanket concept. A series of experiments has been carried out in order to understand the mechanisms that determine the division of flow from a single supply channel to three parallel channels stacked in the direction the magnetic field lines. First flow rate data show that for a relatively high interaction parameter (N > 90), a uniform flow distribution is achieved with less than 5% flow unbalance. For lower values of N , the ratio between the outer to the central channels flow rates is found to follow a N type scaling law, with m = 1/4 for 60 < N < 90 and m = 1/3 N < 60.