Gaseous electrode for MHD generator

Patent · Tue Aug 19 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5355285

Dooley, M T; Bradley, N A; Hiers, Jr, R S; Staats, G E

An improvement in an MHD system is described of the type having duct means for passing a plasma therethrough, means for producing a magnetic field across the duct means, and an electrode assembly: The system consists of: a first elongated element located adjacent the plasma stream; a second elongated electrode element spaced from the first electrode element; means for passing a first gas through the space between the first and second electrode elements; exit means for permitting the first gas to exit from between the first and second electrode elements into the duct; and, voltage means for striking an arc between the first and second electrode elements for ionizing the first gas and electrically connecting the electrode assembly to the plasma stream; the electrode assembly being positioned such that the longitudinal axis of at least one of the elongated electrode elements is at an angle to the magnetic field produced across the duct means, thereby causing the arc to move from place to place along the surface of the elongated electrode in both circumferential and longitudinal directions with respect to the elongated electrode.

• Assignee: Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, VA
• Patent Number(s): US 4607179
• OSTI ID: 5355285
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300103* -- MHD Generators-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
CURRENTS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DUCTS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
FLUIDS
GASES
INCIDENCE ANGLE
IONIZATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MHD CHANNELS
MHD GENERATORS
PLASMA
POSITIONING
SPACE DEPENDENCE