Solar-powered liquid-metal MHD power systems
The two-phase liquid-metal MHD power cycles coupled to solar collectors have potentially a higher efficiency of converting solar energy input into useful electrical power output for all collector temperatures. The MHD interaction is a volume effect, so that efficiency is essentially independent of design level down to fractional-megawatt size, and the performance is attractive even at approx. 50 kWe size. The use of two working fluids in the energy-conversion system is advantageous in coupling the conversion cycle to solar collectors and direct-contact boilers can be used to obtain higher conversion system temperatures. Two liquid-metal MHD systems of interest for solar collectors are presented and explained. Liquid metal MHD conversion systems appropriate to low, intermediate, and high collector temperatures are described along with initial efficiency and cost results.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5718271
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-791205-19
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ASME winter annual meeting, New York, NY, USA, 2 Dec 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
LIQUID-METAL MHD GENERATORS
DESIGN
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
BOTTOMING CYCLES
BRAYTON CYCLE
COMBINED-CYCLE POWER PLANTS
COST
EFFICIENCY
RANKINE CYCLE
STEAM TURBINES
TOPPING CYCLES
TWO-PHASE FLOW
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
FLUID FLOW
MACHINERY
MHD GENERATORS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
140700* - Solar Thermal Power Systems
300101 - MHD Generators- Design & Development