Microwave gaseous electrode development. Final report. [Plasma torch]

Technical Report · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6512314

Jones, Jr, M S; Sathyanarayana, K; Mallavarpu, R; Thiagarajan, V

A microwave plasma torch was developed and tested at bench scale using power inputs of up to 400 W at 2.45 GHz. The bench scale tests included: characterization of the plasma torch operating characteristics as gas composition, gas flow rate, and power input were varied; measuring the effects of magnetic fields on the plasma torch operation; measuring the effects on the plasma torch operation of an aerodynamic flow field past the exit of the torch (cold flow tests); and measurements were made to characterize the plasma gas temperature and electron temperature. Following these tests, the microwave plasma torch was installed in the anode wall of the RMC diagonal conducting wall MHD generator. Hot flow tests were conducted in the channel using unseeded combustion products. These were followed by MHD power generation tests using subsonic and supersonic flows seeded with up to 1.5 w/o potassium and magnetic fields up to 3.8 Tesla. For one series of tests the magnetic field was reversed so that the surface containing the microwave plasma torch operated as a cathode. Following the MHD generator tests, another concept using a microwave slot radiator to produce plasma in the MHD boundary layer was tested at the bench scale. Measurements were made of the parameters necessary to sustain a discharge with the slot radiator open, similar to the microwave plasma torch, with argon flowing through the slots; and with the slots closed with a castable ceramic, the argon flowing past the outside of the slot. The latter tests were extended to a slot configuration appropriate for use in a slagging channel which incorporated water cooling passages in the surface which would be in contact with the MHD channel working fluid. Results are presented and discussed. (WHK)

• Research Organization: Reynolds Metals Co., Sheffield, AL (USA). Energy Conversion Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-80ET15619
• OSTI ID: 6512314
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/15619-T1; FE-5619-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300104* -- MHD Generators-- Duct Engineering & Fluid Dynamics
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CURRENT DENSITY
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
FLOW RATE
FLUCTUATIONS
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MHD CHANNELS
MHD GENERATORS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA JETS
PLASMA SEEDING
RADIATIONS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TESTING
VARIATIONS
VOLTAGE DROP