Simulation of Supersonic MHD Channel Flows

[Abstract] A compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model composed of MHD Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations and magnetic induction equations is proposed in the present study for analyzing the magnetohydrodynamic characteristics in MHD generator and MHD accelerator channels of Magneto -Plasma-Chemical propulsion system [10,11,12] . BaldwinLomax turbulence model is utilized. A s plitting algorithm based on an alternative iteration is also developed for solving the two sets of equations [9] . As a test case, a supersonic MHD flow in a square duct was simulated. The numerical results are compared with the results computed by solving the classical N-S equations for the perfect gas flow, together with the results computed utilizing the degenerate MHD N-S equations for the same channel flow with constant applied magnetic field. The thermo-electro-magnetic performances of the test cases with constant and variable applied fields are then discussed Nomenclature B � = Magnetic field strength vector ( z y x B B B , , ) ( 2 / W bm , Tesla) x B = X component of magnetic field strength ( 2 / W bm , Tesla) y