GRK 1567:  Lorentz Force Velocimetry and Lorentz Force Eddy Current Testing

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering ; Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
• Term: from 2010 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 89085041

The measurement of flow velocities in hot and aggressive liquids such as liquid aluminium and molten glass constitutes one of the grand challenges of industrial fluid mechanics. A different, albeit physically closely related challenge is the detection of deeply lying flaws and inhomogeneities in electrically conducting solid materials.
Since 2004, scientists and engineers at Ilmenau University of Technology have been at the forefront of the development of two novel techniques, termed Lorentz force velocimetry and Lorentz force eddy current testing, which promise to meet these challenges. Both techniques are based on measuring a minuscule Lorentz force, which acts upon a magnet system interacting with the moving liquid or solid. Based on the experience existing in Ilmenau in the fields of high-precision force measurement, high-resolution numerical simulation of fluid flows and the solving of inverse magnetohydrodynamic problems, the goal of the Research Training Group is to measure the Lorentz forces whose value is between 1e-11 N and 1 N, and to deduce the desired parameters in fluids and solids by solving inverse problems.
In order to reach this goal, a symbiotic interaction of high-precision experiments and numerical simulations are planned in three fields, namely A - flow measurement in liquid metals, B - flow measurement in electrolytes, C - eddy current testing of solid materials. It is planned to use the research results in collaboration with industry to develop industrial prototypes, which can be commercialised outside the Research Training Group.
The present subject is well suited for a Research Training Group since the different fields of application are connected with each other by three methodological groups, namely MB - magnet systems, KS - force measuring systems, and TS - theory and simulation. The educational programme is characterised by three unique aspects. (1) The graduate students will acquire specialised knowledge in the field of computational engineering. (2) They will be involved in project-specific international collaboration. (3) The graduate students will be encouraged to work in close contact with industry. By virtue of colloquia, an extensive visiting-scientist programme, brainstorming-meetings and regular monitoring, the students will be enabled to complete their PhD within three years.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Ilmenau
• Participating Researchers: Privatdozent Dr. Thomas Boeck; Dr.-Ing. Hartmut Brauer; Professorin Dr. Gabriele Eichfelder; Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Fröhlich; Dr.-Ing. Bernd Halbedel; Professor Dr.-Ing. Jens Haueisen; Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Karcher; Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Lüdtke; Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard Manske; Dr. Christian Resagk; Professorin Dr. Edda Rädlein; Professor Dr.-Ing. Klaus Zimmermann
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Jörg Schumacher