Thermoacoustic magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator

Patent · Tue Jul 08 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5404968

Wheatley, J C; Swift, G W; Migliori, A

A thermoacoustic magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator is described comprising a magnet having a magnetic field, an elongate hollow housing containing an electrically conductive liquid and a thermoacoustic structure positioned in the liquid, heat exchange means thermally connected to the thermoacoustic structure for inducing the liquid to oscillate at an acoustic resonant frequency within the housing. The housing is positioned in the magnetic field and oriented such that the direction of the magnetic field and the direction of oscillatory motion of the liquid are substantially orthogonal to one another, first and second electrical conductor means connected to the liquid on opposite sides of the housing along an axis which is substantially orthogonal to both the direction of the magnetic field and the direction of oscillatory motion of the liquid, an alternating current output signal is generated in the conductor means at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the oscillatory motion of the liquid.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4599551
• OSTI ID: 5404968
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300101* -- MHD Generators-- Design & Development
300103 -- MHD Generators-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ACOUSTICS
ALTERNATING CURRENT
CURRENTS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
HEAT TRANSFER
LIQUIDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETS
MHD GENERATORS
OPERATION
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RESONANCE
SIGNALS