Development of PIV Technique Under Magnetic Fields and Measurement of Turbulent Pipe Flow of Flibe Simulant Fluid

An investigation of MHD effects on a Flibe (Li₂BeF₄) simulant fluid has been conducted under the US-Japan JUPITER-II collaboration program using "FLIHY" pipe flow facility at UCLA. The present paper reports a development of unique experimental techniques using aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide as a Flibe simulant. In order to apply a particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique for magnetic field condition, special optical devices were developed. The PIV measurements of MHD turbulent pipe flow at Re = 5300 were performed, and modification of the mean flow velocity as well as turbulence suppression was observed. A flat velocity profile in the pipe center and a steep velocity gradient in the near-wall region at Ha = 20 exhibits typical characteristics of Hartmann flow.