Numerical study of MHD mixed convection under volumetric heat source in vertical square duct with wall effects

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mixed convection under strong magnetic field and volumetric heat source for buoyancy-assisted flows are studied numerically in this paper. Blanket is one of key components for energy conversion in Tokamak fusion reactor. The physical model employed for simulations is refined from dual-coolant lead-lithium (DCLL) blanket. A magnetic-convection code based on a consistent and conservative scheme is developed with the help of finite volume method, and validated by some Benchmark analytical solutions. The flows inside duct with thermal insulating and electric conducting walls under exponential neutron volumetric heat source are simulated. Based on Boussinesq assumption, the influences of wall electrical conductivity and buoyancy on velocity fields, temperature distributions and Nusselt numbers are investigated. Results illustrates that the wall conductance ratio dominates the flow at low Grashof numbers and high wall conductance ratio, while buoyancy effect dominates the jet flow near side wall at a high Grashof number. In addition, the velocity along flow direction substantially impacts features of the Nusselt number and temperature distribution. Besides, the jet flow results in a higher Nusselt number and lower temperature. Keywords: Mixed convection, Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), Volumetric heat source