Thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamic and thermocapillary driven flows of liquid conductors in magnetic fields

The Solid/Liquid Lithium Divertor experiment (SLiDE) has been designed, constructed and operated in order to determine the behavior of these liquid conductors in a magnetic field with imposed thermal gradients. Liquid lithium is chosen for its applicability to fusion systems as well as recent demonstrations of its ability to passively redistribute incident heat fluxes on the order of 50[MW/m2]. The lithium is contained within a stainless steel tray that is actively cooled and contains a set of temperature diagnostics for analysis of the heat, flux coming from the tray. The system is magnetized by a set of external magnets and a linear electron beam is used to create heat fluxes similar to those found in fusion divertors. Surface velocity of the liquid lithium is measured with a digital camera.;A theory explaining the balance between thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamics and thero-capillary driven, free-surface flows in containers of arbitrary type in a magnetized environment has been developed. A new dimensionless group depending on the thermoelectric power of the liquid/container pair, the physical properties of the liquid and solid and the flow geometry has been found that determines which mechanism, TC or TEMHD, is the dominant effect in any given system.;Experiments show that TEMHD dominates the flow in SLiDE, consistent with the theory governing these flows. This is verified by series of qualitative experiments, as well as quantitative comparison with theoretical flow predictions. This constitutes the first direct observation of TEMHD driven flow yet reported in the literature. Application of the developed theory indicates liquid lithium fusion systems will operate in a TEMHD dominated regime. Technologies suggested by the exploitation of TEMHD pumping are also presented.