End effects in inviscid flow in a magnetohydrodynamic channel

Abstract

The flow of an inviscid, incompressible electrical conducting fluid in a channel of constant rectangular cross-section is considered, when the flow enters a region which contains a magnetic field transverse to the flow and electrodes on opposite sides of the channel. This geometry is typical of a d.c. induction pump or magnetohydrodynamic generator. The conducting fluid external to the magnetic field acts as a shunt and produces a non-uniform electric potential field and hence a non-uniform Lorenz force on the fluid, and causes the fluid velocity profile to be distorted. These effects are calculated theoretically for small magnetic Reynolds number and small magnetic interaction parameter. It is found that the velocity at the centre-line of the channel is retarded and at the walls the velocity is accelerated. The fractional change of velocity at the wall is equal to approximately 0·44 times a modified magnetic interaction parameter.