Date of Completion
4-22-2025
Degree Type
Honors Thesis
Discipline
Physics (PHYS)
First Advisor
Emily Hawkins
Second Advisor
David Berube
Third Advisor
Jeff Phillips
Abstract
When a magnetic field and electrical current are perpendicular to each other, an ionized fluid will experience a force called the Lorentz force. This force can be applied to create a pump. These pumps have potential applications in desalination and fluid systems in space. The technology is new, and still not well understood but are a potential alternative to typical mechanical pumps. This thesis develops a comprehensive experimental understanding of the fluid flow through a 3D-printed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pump. Lagrangian particle tracking (LPT) uses neutrally buoyant particles and a camera system to collect quantitative velocity information of a system. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) uses the same information, but analyses it in a different way, which can be used as a point of comparison. A scaled version of the Navier-Stokes equation predicted the magnitude of flow as 0.02500 ± 0.00030 m/s. LPT data measured the magnitude of the flow as 0.0252 m/s, which is within the uncertainty of the predicted value. This supports the assumptions made in the scaling as well as the effectiveness of LPT analysis. This thesis also tested the application of a flow meter to cross validate the velocity data but was unable to verify its effectiveness due to inaccurate and inconsistent data. The long- term goal in the LMU Fluids of Astrophysical Bodies (FAB) Lab is to send the MHD pump on a CubeSat test flight to verify the pump’s performance in space. This thesis worked to deepen the understanding of the fluid dynamics of a MHD pump to further justify and prepare for testing in space.
Recommended Citation
Yates, Quintin and Hawkins, Emily, "Understanding Flow: An Experimental Analysis of a Magnetohydrodynamic Fluid Pump" (2025). Honors Thesis. 591.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/honors-thesis/591
