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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

MHD electrical generator

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6340879
An MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) electric generator is provided which is of high efficiency and which can operate in a closed cycle with minimal moving parts for unattended applications. The generator includes a porous tungsten element heated by a heat source and a system for passing primarily pure cesium vapor into the porous element, to produce contact ionization of the cesium with a higher percentage of ions than can be sustained. The highly ionized cesium vapor, and corresponding numbers of electrons from the tungsten element, recombine to produce a much higher temperature as the cesium flows through a tube past an MHD converter that generates electricity, and into a cool end of the tube where the cesium is cooled to a liquid temperature. The liquid can be recirculated by passing it through capillary passages extending towards the location where cesium vapor enters the porous tungsten element.
Research Organization:
Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
Assignee:
EDB-83-067538
Patent Number(s):
None
OSTI ID:
6340879
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English