Closed cycle MHD for central station power with fossil or nuclear fuels
A closed--cycle MHD generator using a noble gas with alkali metal vapor as the working fiuid, when used as a topping unit for a conventional steam plant, can yield cycle efficiencies in excess Of 60% at peak stagnation temperature of 3000 deg F. While high enough for substantial gains in thermodynamic efficiency, this temperature is relatively low for an electrically conducting gas and conductivity is achieved by decoupling electron temperature from gas temperature. A ceramic regenerative heat exchanger supplies thermal energy to the working fluid. The latter can be any clean fossil fuel, preferably low BTU (about 150 BTU/ SCF) coal gas. With multi-stage combustion, pulverized coal is also a possible fuel. On a long range basis, closed cycle MHD is ideally suited for high temperature gas cooled fission reactors and probably, also to fusion reactors. The closed cycle MHD generator is adaptable to the Brayton cycle, the regenerative Brayton cycle and eventually the Rankine cycle. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Philadelphia, Pa. (USA)
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-024105
- OSTI ID:
- 4338313
- Report Number(s):
- AD--766500-3; ONR-TR--20
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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