Magazine Article

Compact, Lightweight Electromagnetic Pump for Liquid Metal

TBMG-8305

08/01/2010

Abstract
Content

A proposed direct-current electromagnetic pump for circulating a molten alkali metal alloy would be smaller and lighter and would demand less input power, relative to currently available pumps of this type. (Molten alkali metals are used as heat-transfer fluids in high-temperature stages of some nuclear reactors.) The principle of operation of this or any such pump involves exploitation of the electrical conductivity of the molten metal: An electric current is made to pass through the liquid metal along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flow channel, and a magnetic field perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and the electric current is superimposed on the flowchannel region containing the electric current. The interaction between the electric current and the magnetic field produces the pumping force along the longitudinal axis. The advantages of the proposed pump over other such pumps would accrue from design features that address overlapping thermal and magnetic issues.

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Citation
"Compact, Lightweight Electromagnetic Pump for Liquid Metal," Mobility Engineering, August 1, 2010.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Aug 1, 2010
Product Code
TBMG-8305
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English