Numerical Study of the Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow in a Self-Designed Mixer for a Ga-R113 MHD System

Abstract

Abstract:Liquid metal MHD (Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic) systems can be employed to produce electricity from a wide range of heat resources. In such a system, a low-boiling organic fluid and a high-temperature liquid metal fluid mix. The former evaporates, and carries the latter to flow through an MHD channel, where the electricity is generated. The mixing process and the gas-liquid flow characteristics will have a significant effect on the power generating efficiency. In the present work, trifluorotrichloroethane (R113) was chosen as the organic fluid, and gallium (Ga) as the liquid metal, respectively. Numerical study was subsequently carried out on the gas-liquid flow and heat transfer in a self-designed spherical mixer. The effects of the main factors, including the inlet velocities and inlet temperatures of Ga and R113, were separately determined, with suggested values or ranges discussed in detail.

Analysis of the Magnetohydrodynamic Behavior of the Fully Developed Flow of Conducting Fluid

“…Other means of MHD power generation include propelling ionized gases through magnetic fields. Reference [13] is related to two-phase liquid metal MHD (LMMHD) power generation systems, in which a low-boiling gas and high-temperature liquid metal (heated by a source like solar energy, geothermal etc) are mixed, and the resulting fluid flows through a transverse magnetic field, where electricity is generated. They performed a numerical analysis study to determine the influences of related variables in the mixing process and the two-phase flow characteristics, which significantly affect the generation efficiency.…”