COUPLED THREE-DIMENSIONAL FLOW AND ELECTRICAL CALCULATIONS FOR FARADAY MHD GENERATORS.

A three-dimensional model fully incorporating the interaction between the flow and electrical fields in MHD channels is presented. The model consists of Navier-Stokes equations in parabolic form, Maxwell and Ohm's law equations as they apply to the MHD situation, and a two-equation turbulence model. The model predictions are first compared against the supersonic flow experimental data from the AEDC facility; these data reflect weak MHD interaction in that the flowfield is little affected by the electrical power extraction. The model is then applied to high-interaction subsonic flow in the AEDC channel to show the emergence of velocity overshoots, secondary flow, and the asymmetries in flow and electrical fields.