Bubble dynamics in liquid metals under external horizontal magnetic field

Abstract

In this study, computational fluid dynamics simulation was used to derive full understanding of a bubble rising in liquid metals with the presence of an external horizontal magnetic field. The major aim of the study was to develop new correlations for bubble velocity and stability in liquid metals. In-house code PSI-BOIL (Parallel SImulator of BOILing phenomena, developed by Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland) has been used for the simulations. Single bubble rising in quiescent liquid is simulated for three different sets of materials (nitrogen+mercury, argon+GalnSn, and argon+steel). The influence of external horizontal magnetic field on bubble dynamics is analyzed, and vertical magnetic field is not considered in this study. Overall, results show that horizontal magnetic field reduces bubble rising velocity, straightens the bubble trajectory, and enhances bubble interface stability.