Four-piston double-duct liquid metal MHD engine and AC generator
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Operating principles, features and applications of the Liquid Metal (LM) engine are presented. This engine combines a free-piston internal combustion engine with an MHD AC power generator. Liquid metal (LM) oscillates back-and-forth in two separate channels, driven by free pistons coupled magnetically to pistons driven by internal combustion. One of the principal breakthroughs is the concept of using double ducts in a Hartmann configuration for MHD production of alternating current. The LM flows in opposing directions in the two adjacent Hartmann ducts, thus eliminating magnetic-induced instabilities, eliminating vibration, and providing an ideal setup for attaching an output transformer on one side provide to provide useful ranges of current and voltage. Because LM is used, the length of the piston stroke can be easily varied over a large range, thus making possible an engine that, changes size, according to variation in output load requirements. Increasing the stroke length results in increased compression ratio, which requires computer controlled modification of the fuel injection mixture. Higher fuel efficiencies will result, whether the engine is idling or operating at maximum power. Because of viscous dissipation losses in the LM, this engine will be more efficient for larger engines. Applications include any power generation where variable load is required, such as stationary electric generators for remote towns and cities, temporary military encampments, and mobile primary power generators for off-road and on-road automotive equipment, including caterpillars, cars, military vehicles, trucks, and trains. The advantages for automotive propulsion will be described in comparisons with current and developmental vehicles using internal combustion engines. Because the LM-engine generates electricity, an LM-engine vehicle is readily adaptable to hybrid concepts. An R&D program will be outlined for bringing the concept of the LM engine to commercial application.
- OSTI ID:
- 254668
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950697--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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