Influence of external magnetic fields on slip ratio in LMMHD two-phase flow

LMMHD two-phase flow modelling strongly depends on the accuracy of the constitutive equations and the corresponding closure laws. Several questions rise from various attempts to model these flows. They are mainly connected with the modification of two-phase flow (interfacial dragging, wall friction, apparent elec- trical conductivity, etc.) due to the electromagnetic forces.
The present paper presents a comprehensive survey of the LMMHD two-phase investigations performed in our two laboratories using different liquid systems, mercury-air (LEGI-IMG) and sodium-argon (FZR), with quite different properties. The remarkable difference in the material properties allow us to reach a wide range of nondimensional parameters.
For theoretical predictions a two fluid model (LEGI-IMG) and a bubbly flow model (FZR) have been developed in order to meet the requirements of the corresponding facilities.
The experiments have been realized in rectangular vertical test sections immersed into a transverse magnetic field. The gas is injected in the entrance region of the magnetic field. The distribution of the local void fraction across the channel cross section was measured by means of single wire resistivity probes. The electrical boundary conditions of the test sections are rather different. While the FZR test section consists of a simple stainless steel channel (thickness of the walls: 5 mm), the LEGI-IMG configuration, which includes segmented copper electrodes and an external load resistance, is more similar to a MHD generator. In the FZR experiment a volumetric quality in the range of 0.06 - 0.09 leads to a pure bubbly flow regime. In contrast to this the LEGI-IMG facility usually work with considerable higher gas flow rates.
We present experimental results showing the dependence of the mean values of the void fraction, the slip ratio and the gas velocity on the magnetic field strength as well as on the mean sodium velocity. These results will be compared with the theoreti ...