Numerical investigation of MHD heat transfer in a vertical round tube affected by transverse magnetic field

Numerical simulations of the flow of a liquid metal in a vertical pipe are performed. The configuration reproduces the test section of the recent experiment [1]. The mean flow is directed downward, a half of the pipe's wall is heated, and a strong horizontal magnetic field perpendicular to the temperature gradient is imposed. The simulations produce results in good agreement with the experiment and lead us to an explanation of the observed phenomenon of anomalous high-amplitude temperature fluctuations. The fluctuations are caused by growth and quasi-periodic breakdown of the pairs of ascending and descending jets related to the elevator-mode thermal convection. Implications for operation of liquid metal blankets with poloidal ducts are discussed.