Verification and Validation of OpenFOAM Magnetohydrodynamics Code for Fusion Relevant Flows

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling of liquid metal flows using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is an essential part of developing proposed fusion technologies such as breeding blankets and protective liquid lithium layers for divertors. OpenFOAM, an open-source CFD software, has been used to predict liquid metal breeding blanket channel flows. OpenFOAM allows for increased adaptability over industry-standard CFD software, such as CFX, when modeling and simulating flows within the blankets. The novel MHD code [1] has been verified and validated against several benchmark cases. Initially, results were compared to the analytical solution [2,3] of fully developed flow in the channels with conducting and non-conducting Hartmann walls. Continued verification and validation were performed on 3D MHD channel flows with variable external magnetic fields.

[1] Mas de les Valls (2011) PhD Thesis. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya 

[2] Shercliff (1953) Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge

Philosophical Society

[3] Hunt (1965) JFM