Electrodynamic processes in a spiral MHD pump of transformer type

The creation of nuclear power plants using lead as a coolant makes it relevant to study and design devices capable of effectively pumping it. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the pressure developed in the stop mode by a spiral-MHD pump of a transformer type, capable of creating high pressures even when working with low-conductivity liquid metals. The paper presents a numerical simulation of electrodynamic processes in such a pump. The paper presents an estimated analytical dependence that helps to compare the characteristics of various versions of the designed pump without calculation packages. As part of the verification of the mathematical model, the experimentally studied design was calculated using the estimated form and numerical model. The paper presents the pump characteristics in the stop mode for some of its design options, as well as when it works with metals of different electrical conductivities. A comparison of calculations using the estimated formula and the numerical model with the experimental results was made. It is shown that the pump can create high pressures of the order of units of megapascals, working even with metals such as liquid lead, which has low electrical conductivity.