Liquid Coil Electromagnet
Chris, Sat Sept 09 2006, 12:21AMI wonder how well it would work to make an electromagnet where, instead of having a solid conductor with liquid coolant circulating through it, the conductor itself was a liquid metal that doubled as the coolant. Sodium/Potassium eutetic alloy which is liquid from -12.6 to 785°C would be highly appropriate, as it is far more conductive than other liquid metals and alloys like mercury or gallium/indium.
The metal could be pumped around and through a radiator by a mechanical pump, or possibly some electromagnetic scheme, and the flow would be segmented by mechanical means at the power supply end to avoid a short circuit. I imagine extremely high current could be used with such a design, though with equally extreme heat losses.
Re: Liquid Coil Electromagnet
Marko, Sat Sept 09 2006, 12:26AM
It would work but what's the point?
Even the biggest magnets can usually be cooled by simple means etc. water cooling.
Getting temperature to few hundred degrees would just increase ohmic resistance and decrease current per turn of coil.
Not to say it would be a bunch of times more complicated and expensive than simple copper winding.
Marko, Sat Sept 09 2006, 12:26AM
It would work but what's the point?
Even the biggest magnets can usually be cooled by simple means etc. water cooling.
Getting temperature to few hundred degrees would just increase ohmic resistance and decrease current per turn of coil.
Not to say it would be a bunch of times more complicated and expensive than simple copper winding.
Re: Liquid Coil Electromagnet
Simon, Sun Sept 10 2006, 01:34AM
In electrolysis of some ionic compounds, the ionic is melted and the heat from the current put through the liquid keeps it molten.
Ultimately, I'm with Firkragg, though.
Simon, Sun Sept 10 2006, 01:34AM
In electrolysis of some ionic compounds, the ionic is melted and the heat from the current put through the liquid keeps it molten.
Ultimately, I'm with Firkragg, though.
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