Magnetohydrodynamics at work

Weekender
TECHNOLOGY

By MICHAEL JOHN UGLO
WE have made a huge progress in terms of our Friday’s lectures on Technology looking from an academic perspective.
You can now assert that everything in the world is all linked to technology, particularly focusing on our economy, health, agriculture and education.
Magnetohydrodynamics is the topic for today. It stems into technology in the physics academic studies.
The definition can be inferred as a person in anyone. You have a father and a mother called your parents. Your parents also have their parents in those descending, orders and it is a combinatorial explosion as you can realise. Similarly, magnetohydrodynamics is made up of the terms magneto meaning it carries a magnetic field, hydro meaning fluid (water) and dynamics meaning movement. Thus, when you collectively comprehend the term it means mediums as in fluids that move with their magnetic fields’ interactions.
Looking at the above simplified understanding, it is worth to derive any medium of the sort as accounted for above. Most obviously the salt water referred to as the saline water or the marine water, plasma, liquid metal like mercury and electrolytes can quickly be referred to. The reason for that is, all of these fluids mentioned carry charges that can conduct electricity and at the same time induce magnetic effects.
Now, when such fluids are flowing past, then you would expect to find that the fluid will be polarised because the fluid is moving. Thus, there will be changes in the magnetic field. The magnetic field has a field line that is developed to a near equilibrium when there is a minimal allowable resistance. Thus, that line can be taken as the frozen electromagnetic line. When such a scenario is present it has to be appreciated that, it has energy accumulated within it.
Furthermore, it has to be remembered that, the electromagnetic equations and the fluid dynamics equations and their simultaneous solutions can be depended on to precisely state the correct conditions at the allowable times with laser induced interactions. We are saying allowable times because the extents of the magnetic effect of magnetic flux densities and the inherent electromagnetic interactions of the particles as in plasma with a very minimal time span creates those ideal electromagnetic field lines.
With a few pokes or touches in the linear magnetic field lines of those plasmas can cause blasts and explosions demonstrating the containment of the energies therein. With the charges carried by the fluids as exemplified above, they generate a magnetic field as well as electrical fields and that makes them capable of conducting electricity and at the same time can detect and respond to distant electromagnetic effects. Such would include the ferromagnetic nature of the inner solid iron core and outer molten ferric metallic core of the planet earth.
Seismological excursions show, soaring in the magnetic field effect correlates with instances like earthquakes. Also, further effects induced from the magnetosphere and or ionospheres also electromagnetically can be studied to determine the seismological activities of the earth. In collaboration, atmospheric contents to tracing climatic and atmospheric variables and their activities can be used to detecting tsunamis, tornados, storms, avalanches and droughts.

Magnetohydrodynamics drive. – Picture from en.wikipedia.org

Essence of magnetohydrodynamics in technology
Of paramount importance is the electromagnetic depictions in the states of matter which automatically affixes the atomic particles’ deviations to relay vital information for man’s use. The Maxwellian and the Naiver-Strokes equations hold to reveal the quantum effects of the dynamics of the charged fluids. This is interaction at the relatively atomic level and provide very sound and real time undisputed information by human standard.
Magnetic field lines can be broken and reconnected. Here it is a relive and it has the potential resource for use. The fluid of magnetic nature and charge can be moved from one place to another. Thus, it can be harnessed for use as a potential source of energy without any moving mechanical parts as you can see. Some pilot and prototype machines like an experimental boat from the Ocean Foundation with magnetohydrodynamics principle for propulsion was produced in Japan.
The first prototype propulsion was made in 1965 by Steward Way a professor in mechanical engineering. It can be seen that, for any higher resistance in the way of the magnetic field line, can cause disruptions in the continuity of the ideal plasma condition for electromagnetic field lines formations. Also, the idea of MHD can be of a perfect conductor of electricity with a minimal resistivity, thus has a regular magnetic field’s attachment. The magnitude at which that is achieved is the limit of the infinite magnetic Reynold’s number. Reynold’s number according to the Wikipedia is “…the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces within a fluid which is subjected to relative internal movement due to different fluid velocities.”

Saline water and Salinity. – Picture from tame-water.com

Applications of magnetohydrodynamics
The applications in this technology of the magnetohydrodynamics is the precise detection and alert of seismological activities that can relay impending occurrence of natural devastating earthquakes. Also, it alerts for evacuation for volcanoes and tsunamis as well in milliseconds. The detection of disastrous weather perturbations as cyclones and precipitative avalanche are also made for rescues. Also, information on the sensing of tides as they are caused by the moon and the earth’s gravitational effects to exert force or to pull on each other are also made available for rescue missions’ knowledge.
The application of MHD is very paramount here because, the planet earth’s existence is bound to time as a variable in the solar system, the milky-way galaxy and the universe as a whole. It can basically inform people on real time the worldwide over world wide web applications as in computer pervasive and distributive systems, the climatic and weather details to milliseconds of correct information.
The reason being that, with the liquid metal in magma below the earth’s surface with its magnetic field and its flux density, can resonate. Its magnetic field lines can be used to point to astronomical events in the magnetosphere and ionosphere with the atmospheric variables in between to correctly align their interactions for weather forecasts. Hence, in the world of technology, corresponding computer software are devised for use as applications to tell what is exactly happening to day-to-day weather and the 30 to 25-year period of climatic changes of the present time and into the future.

Abdominal MRI scan. – Picture from ucsfhealth.org

Arriving technologies in magnetohydrodynamics
As living cells and tissues of the living things are electrolytes, there is a vast use and benefits that can be accrued from the field of magnetohydrodynamics for health, education and agriculture. In specific cases such as the fluids in the body can resonate with the magnetic and electric field to relay correct real-time information for understanding the flow of blood whether or not its viscosity poses any threat. Also, in neurotransmissions to information relay pathways and centres as the central nervous systems like the brain and the spinal cord with effector as muscles and vital organs like heart and kidney are coordinating to effect, an action in the reflex arc. This can be verified for correct diagnosis with the mind and the body’s coordination. One such application in use is the MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) scanning.
More uses are yet to be uncovered as we get to the quantum field and interactions with laser phenomenon, to identify the causative agents for effects of concern to life. It is just like checking on the building blocks, say like the bricks of an architectural structure. When one brick is damaged, you can of course replace it with a new one in the digital world with the MHD as a tool kit by your side. That is to say, so many ailments and ills in the society can be corrected with magnetohydrodynamics topology and reconnection.

Next week: Nuclear physics in technology

  • Michael Uglo is the author of the science textbook “Science in PNG, Pacific, Asia & Caribbean” and a lecturer in Avionics, Auto- Piloting & Aircraft Engineering. Please email your comments to [email protected]