MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION AND APPLICATION TO LIQUID METALS

Recent interest in high temperature lubrication, in particular liquid metal lubrication, has prompted an investigation of the possible use of hydromagnetic effects to increase bearing pressurisation and load capacity. It has been found that by applying an external magnetic field along with an external current source a significant increase in pressurisation can be achieved over the hydrodynamical bearing. With the application of a magnetic field alone, that is under open circuit conditions, no appreciable pressurisation can be achieved except for extremely large magnetic fields. Several bearing geometries are analysed, the journal bearing, thrust bearing, and slider bearing, all with the same general conclusions. Various possible magnetic field and electrode configurations are discussed.