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Title: Liquid-metal MHD for solar and coal: system and component status

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6241783

The motivations for using two-phase-generator liquid-metal MHD (LMMHD) energy-conversion systems with solar collectors and cyclone-type coal combustors are given. The solar LMMHD studies presented focus on two collector temperatures - approx. 590/sup 0/K (600/sup 0/F) with an LMMHD Rankine cycle, an attractive temperature for near-term use, and approx. 1090/sup 0/K (1500/sup 0/F) with an LMMHD Brayton cycle, typical of higher-performance long-range uses. The coal LMMHD studies emphasize the development of a new system model and its application to performance and optimization analysis, and reactions of liquid copper with coal combustion products (gas, slag) and the use of the copper to control environmental impacts. Cogeneration applications and retrofits of existing central-station electric plants are particularly-attractive options for LMMHD with both solar and coal. High-efficiency high-power-density, and high-temperature LMMHD generator data are summarized, because they indicate that large, high-efficiency generators can be built. The status of the two-phase mixer and separator is discussed.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6241783
Report Number(s):
CONF-800806-42; ON: DE81023120
Resource Relation:
Conference: 15. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Seattle, WA, USA, 18 Aug 1980
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English