Plasmas in MHD power generation

Author

Rosa, Richard J. ; Krueger, Charles H. ; Shioda, Susumi

Author_Institution

Dept. of Mech. Eng., Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, USA

Volume

19

Issue

6

fYear

1991

fDate

12/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1180

Lastpage

1190

Abstract

The plasma found in a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator is discussed. An MHD generator is an expansion engine. It delivers electric rather than mechanical power and there are virtually no upper limits to the temperature it can tolerate, the rapidity of its response, or the power a single unit can be designed to deliver. The behavior of the plasma is uncomplicated compared to that encountered in some other devices, and yet complex, because of the precision with which one needs to know it. The topics included are: generator configurations; electron density; electron mobility; mixture rules; the Hall effect; uniformity; two-temperature plasma; ionization growth at a channel inlet; ionization instability; high enthalpy extraction experiments; segmenting; electrode voltage drop; arcs and electrodes; electrical effects of slag; current control; and waves

Keywords

arcs (electric); electric current control; electrodes; electron mobility; ionisation; magnetohydrodynamic convertors; plasma density; plasma devices; plasma diagnostics; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; plasma transport processes; plasma waves; Hall effect; MHD generator; MHD power generation; arcs; channel inlet; current control; electrical effects; electrode voltage drop; electrodes; electron density; electron mobility; expansion engine; generator configurations; high enthalpy extraction experiments; ionization growth; ionization instability; mixture rules; plasma; segmenting; slag; two-temperature plasma; uniformity; waves; Electrodes; Electron mobility; Engines; Hall effect; Ionization; Magnetohydrodynamic power generation; Plasma density; Plasma devices; Plasma temperature; Power generation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.125040

Filename

125040