Fussey, David Eric (1969) Magneto-viscous effects in combustion plasma. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis presents a theoretical and experimental study ot magneto-viscous etfects in laminar fluid flows.

The fully developed M.H.D. flow past a semi-infinite plate (semiinfinite perpendicular to flow) in an unbounded fluid, with a magnetic field perpendicular to the plate, is analysed by a simple similarity method to demonstrate the characteristic transverse wakes which are produced in such situations. The analysis shows that the wakes emanate from the edge of the plate along the direction of the applied magnetic field - a more complete analysis is, however, given by Hasimoto (1960).

The flow past plates is investigated in the more complex situation, when the flow is bounded by rectangular ducts. A computerised numerical study of ordinary hydrodynamic and M.H.D. flows (at moderate Hartmann Number) explores the effects of (a) inserting plates into rectangular ducts, (b) of imposing pressure gradients, and (c) of moving sections of the duct walls or the inserted plates. In each case, the fully developed flow (2-D variation across the duct cross-section) is presented.

The experimental investigation employs a combustion plasma as a working fluid. Magneto-viscous interactions are produced by inserting refractory plates into a refractory-lined duct. The experiments include internal (pitot) measurements of velocity distributions for both ordinary hydrodynamic flow and M.H.D. flow. Two configurations of the inserted plate are adopted; firstly, a plate long in the flow direction, but only half duct height, and, secondly, a plate which extends across the full width of the duct, but which is 'semi-infinite' in the flow direction. For both configurations in the M.H.D. case, the applied magnetic field is perpendicular to the plate.

In the M.H.D. flows, the first plate configuration produces transverse wakes, similar in form to those found theoretically. In the second configuration where the developing boundary layer is investigated, the Hartmann etfect is demonstrated. A Water-cooled. pitot-static probe, and an R.F. conductivity probe, Which were developed for these experiments, are described. The theoretical solutions which relate to uniform property flows do not show close agreement with the experimental results, and it is suggested that non-uniformity of electrical conductivity in the combustion plasma is the main cause for incompatibility. However, the same trends can be seen.

The magnitude of the interactions produced in this small scale experiment suggest that highly significant magneto-viscous effects could be produced in combustion M.H.D. generators, which operate at much higher values of the Hartmann Number.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QC Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Magnetohydrodynamics, Combustion, Laminar flow, Plasma (Ionized gases), Viscosity
Official Date:	1969
Dates:	Date Event 1969 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Engineering
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Shercliff, J. A. (John Arthur)
Extent:	xii, 105, 17 leaves : illustrations, charts.
Language:	eng

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