TWO-DIMENSIONAL FLOWS IN CYLINDRICAL MHD PUMPS.

In the construction of high flow rate cylindrical pumps, the question of flow stability of the liquid metal within the working channel becomes very important. Transverse velocities have been discovered in the channel which lead to the development of a helical flow. The question as to whether the transverse velocities are produced by asymmetry, or whether they exist as a result of the instability of the symmetrical problem remains unanswered. In order to answer this question theoretically, it is necessary to investigate stability at least in a two-dimensional flow. Inasmuch as there exists no concise solution to this problem, authors present here a qualitative approach. In order to arrive at a more detailed explanation, numerical solutions are required that are based on the joint Navier Stokes and Maxwell equations. The qualitative picture presented herein may serve as a thorough-going test of the correctness of the numerical solutions and can be used in the analysis of the results of experimental investigations, and of the methodology of their formulation.