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Rebirth of MHD

Journal Article · · Technology; (United States)
OSTI ID:6658068

A low-temperature MHD system employing liquid metal and a low-boiling point organic vapor as its working fluids is described, and considered from the standpoints of: (1) development status (2) thermal energy sources, with emphasis on low-temperature solar collectors and industrial process waste heat (3) economic advantage, by comparison to Rankine-cycle and photovoltaic solar systems and (4) operational efficiency. Figures for the net cost of power produced by the three solar systems compared, when the further conversion of MHD exhaust heat is considered, are $0.57/kWh for the photovoltaic, $0.116/kWh for the Rankine cycle, and $0.054/kWh for the low-temperature MHD. A further contrast is drawn with the typically 2500 C-working gas MHD systems being developed in the U.S. and U.S.S.R.

OSTI ID:
6658068
Journal Information:
Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Technology; (United States) Vol. 2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English