Modeling the Dynamics of Liquid Metal in Fusion Liquid Walls Using Maxwell-Navier-Stokes Equations

The dissertation explores a framework for numerically simulating the deformation of the liquid metal wall's free surface in Z-pinch fusion devices. This research is conducted in the context of utilizing liquid metals as plasma-facing components in fusion reactors. In the Z-pinch fusion process, electric current travels through a plasma column and enters into a pool of liquid metal. The current flowing through the liquid metal generates Lorentz force, which deforms the free surface of the liquid metal. Modeling this phenomenon is essential as it offers insights into the feasibility of using liquid metal as an electrode wall in such fusion devices. The conventional magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) formulation aims at modeling the situation where an external magnetic field is applied to flows involving electrically conducting liquids, with the initial magnetic field is known and then evolved over time through magnetic induction equation. However, in Z-pinch fusion devices, the electric current is directly injected into a conducting liquid. In these situations, an analytical expression for the magnetic field generated by the applied current is not readily available, necessitating numerical calculations. Moreover, the deformation of the liquid metal surface changes the geometry of the current path over time and the resulting magnetic field. By directly solving the Maxwell equations in combination with Navier-Stokes equations, it becomes possible to predict the magnetic field even when the fluid is in motion. In this dissertation, a numerical framework utilizing the Maxwell-Navier-Stokes system is explored to successfully capture the deformation of the liquid metal's free surface due to applied electric current.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Aerospace and Ocean Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Murugaiyan, Suresh

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Brizzolara, Stefano
• Srinivasan, Bhuvana

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Paterson, Eric G.
• Adams, Colin

• Maxwell-Navier-Stokes
• Magneto-Hydrodynamics
• Potential Formulation
• Z-pinch
• Liquid Metal
• Fusion
• Liquid Wall Modeling
• Finite Volume Method
• Axisymmetric Modeling
• Wedge Mesh
• Free Surface Deformation

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:39326

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/118138