Electron Heating in Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generators

Abstract

Electron heating arising from the induced electric field is theoretically analyzed in three different idealized directcurrent MHD generator geometries. It is shown that the electron temperature can be considerably higher than the initial stagnation temperature of the gas. For conditions of electron heating, the current, electrical conductivity, and power density are calcuiated in a mixture of argon and 1% potassium in a segmented-electrode geometry. The calculated electrical conductivities and power densities are higher by one to two orders of magnitude than those achieved in MHD generators using combustion gases, but at a much lower temperature. These results indicate a possible method of solving two of the major problems of MHD power generation, viz., electrical conductivity and gas temperature. (auth)