DRBEM Solution of MHD Flow and Electric Potential in a Rectangular Pipe with a Moving Lid

Abstract

We present the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) solution of the system of equations which model magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow in a pipe with moving lid at low magnetic Reynolds number. The external magnetic field acts in the pipe-axis direction generating the electric potential. The solution is obtained in terms of stream function, vorticity and electric potential in the cross-section of the pipe, and the pipe axis velocity is also computed under a constant pressure gradient. It is found that fluid flow concentrates through the upper right corner forming boundary layers with the effect of moving lid and increased magnetic field intensity. Electric field behavior is changed accordingly with the insulated and conducting portions of the pipe walls. Fluid moves in the pipe-axis direction with an increasing rate of magnitude when Hartmann number increases. The boundary only nature of DRBEM provides the solution at a low computational expense.