Electromagnetic induction pump for pumping liquid metals and other conductive liquids
AssigneeThe University of Chicago
InventorRobert K. Smither
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Abstract
An electromagnetic induction pump in which an electrically conductive liquid is made to flow by means of a force created by interaction of a permanent magnetic field and a DC current. The pump achieves high efficiency through combination of: powerful permanent magnet materials which provide a high strength field that is uniform and constant; steel tubing formed into a coil which is constructed to carry conducting liquids with minimal electrical resistance and heat; and application of a voltage to induce a DC current which continuously produces a force in the direction of the desired flow.
Claims14
A magnetic induction pump for pumping liquid metals and other electrical current conductive liquids, comprised of:
- a tubing assembly comprised of a plurality of turns of electrically conductive tubing, suitably disposed for conveying an electrically conductive liquid through said conductive tubing;
- permanent magnet means for creating a constant magnetic field within said tubing assembly;
- and
- means for applying a voltage across said tubing thereby inducing a DC current to flow through said tubing substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of said conductive liquid, and causing a current to interact with said magnetic field having its field direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of current flow, creating a force along the direction of flow of said conductive liquid which moves said conductive liquid through said tubing with a pressure of about 100-900 psi/1000 amps and up to about 5 gallons/minute liquid flow.
A cooling system for a heat source, comprising:
- a pump for circulating a liquid metal through said cooling system, said pump comprising means for applying a DC current flowing substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of said liquid metal and a magnetic induction pump including permanent magnets for generating a substantially constant magnetic field of high strength having a magnetic field direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of current flow creating a force along the direction of flow of said liquid metal and moving said liquid metal through said cooling system;
- and
- a heat exchanger network having a plurality of capillary flow tubes for transmitting said liquid metal therethrough, said network disposed in near association with said heat source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.