Effect of the Earth’s Magnetic Field on the Electric-Vortex-Flow Structure

Resumo

The results of numerical and experimental study of the effect of the Earth’s magnetic field on the electric-vortex flow of liquid metal in a hemispherical container are presented. It is found that the combination of toroidal flow and azimuthal force caused by the interaction of an electric current flowing through the liquid metal with a relatively weak external magnetic field leads to an intense twist of the fluid. This effect can be observed, for example, in electrometallurgical aggregates.