Quasi-Two-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Influence of Taylor Vortex and Eddy Current on Generation Characteristics of Co-axial MHD Energy Conversion Device under Laminar Flow

Abstract

Quasi-two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation was conducted to clarify the power generation characteristics of a co-axial MHD energy conversion device under laminar flow. The numerical results were compared with one-dimensional theoretical results in the radial direction. For a fixed load resistance, the dependence of output power and efficiency on Hartmann number, which is proportional to the magnetic flux density, was investigated. We found the decrease in mean velocity and the increase in viscous wall shear stress owing to upper and lower walls, the increase in viscous wall shear stress owing to Taylor vortex cells, and the increase in Joule heating owing to eddy current in the MHD numerical simulation compared to those in the one-dimensional theoretical analysis.