The main conceptual designs of liquid metal blanket, methods of pressure drop decrease in the strong magnetic field of the fusion reactor are being discussed. Special features of the flows of electrically conductive fluids in the strong magnetic fields (N≫ M≫ 1) are examined. The approximate limits of the transition to the linear (Stokes) flow in the characteristic elements of the blanket, based on experimental data, are presented. It is noted, that the most promising ways of diminishing pressure losses are: laminated walls and ducts with high aspect ratio. Methods of heat transfer enhancement in the blanket, which make it possibie to decrease thermomechanical stresses and liquid metal flow rate, are discussed. Possibilities of free surface liquid metal flow application for erosion prevention of contact devices and main schemes of flow organization are briefly discussed.

The uniform MHD dynamo is often presented working on helicity occuring in multi-eddy turbulence. Such turbulence consumes energy, which is unacceptable in the laboratory. For the purpose of experimentation, we are studying helical models with one or two moving parts. The models can be semi-analytically calculated and are selected in increasing complexity to show the level of information each contains. The current status of the experiment is also reported.

The prospect of liquid metal (LM) employment in fusion tokamak reactors blankets has been discussed. Special attention is being paid to MHD problems connected with LM pumping in a strong magnetic field, and to the design technique. The possibility of realizing such pumping is considered for the hybrid blanket of the Soviet experimental fusion reactor. The most important parameters in the conceptual design of such a blanket are-low value of MHD flow resistance in ducts parallel to the magnetic field; the possibility of insulating film development, separating the coolant from the hydraulic duct walls, anomalous heat transfer in the magnetic field, etc. Application of LM for plasma impurity control components and first wall protection using a LM surface are also analysed. An experiment with a droplet diaphragm in a tokamak-type installation is described. The results are presented as to the changes in reactor characteristics due to LM application.

This paper deals with the results of the design and liquid metal tests of the electromagnetic pump CLIP-3/3500 on 3500 m3/h. The pump is intended for installation in one of the second loops of BN-350 commercial reactor in the Mangyshlak power plant. The characteristics of the pump which illustrate its suitability for exploitation are stated. Finally, the paper describes the powerful electromagnetic pumps working under large values of electromagnetic and MHD-interaction parameters.

The design and operation of cylindrical linear induction pumps for use in fast reactors is studied. Experimental data are presented for the TsLIN-5/850 pump. (AIP)

Test results for the TsLIN-3/3500 electromagnetic pump, built for experimental use in one of the secondary loops in the BN-350 reactor, are considered. Design and operating parameters are also given. The tests consisted of thermal, mechanical, hydraulic, and vibration and noise regimes. The scope for starting the pump with a gas bubble in the upper part of the channel was also examined. Measurements were also made on the transient state, supply disconnection, and simulation of the changes due to shift in supply voltage.

The phenomenon of MHD-dynamo field generation was studied using a screw dynamo scheme to model liquid-metal experiments. The model, except the measurement channel, was filled with liquid sodium. The hydraulics of the model was designed for possible complete utilization of the pump power, expended primarily for imparting to the sodium a screw motion in the relatively small central channel. The electrodynamic processes in the model were calculated. A significant modification of the model was the return of the flow in order to achieve the goals of arranging the input and output close to one another and along the same line, reducing the critical Reynolds number value, and transferring generation from the connective into the absolute regime. The observed subcritical flow rates responding to an external disturbance were found to correspond to the theory. Although self-excitation was not achieved, the experiment suggested that with this model and pump and after eliminating mechanical vibration might achieve the critical flow rate and observe magnetic field generation.

Optimization computations are carried out for a pump intended to pump sodium at 380/sup 0/C into the secondary loop of a fast reactor.(AIP)

In the present work we perform optimization calculations for a liquid-metal MHD energy conversion system which includes an inductive accumulator and which has, on the one hand, a powerful electric power of up to 1 GJ and, on the other hand, a capability for obtaining the necessary power output by means of a rapid transfer to the load of the stored energy in the accumulator.