Open cycle MHD systems modeling studies

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:7364539

Amend, W E

A computer code is currently under development at Argonne National Laboratory for simulating Open Cycle MHD (OC MHD) power plants. In view of the many plant configurations proposed by researchers, this computer program has been developed with maximum flexibility so a multitude of configurations can be examined, including both direct- and indirect-fired air preheaters. The code allows the user to string together the components for the MHD system in any desired order and to examine the design consistency and performance level of the system. The computer code is programmed in a top-down manner in that the primary emphasis during the initial stages of development has been on the highest level of code logic which integrates the components with provisions for the various component options, insuring that the proper information is passed between corresponding subsystems and that the bookkeeping procedures are set up so that ultimately system costs can be computed. Sufficient physical information has been put into the various subsystems so that meaningful energy balances can be made, the configurations can be checked for consistency with the second law of thermodynamics, and system efficiencies can be calculated. The sophistication of the computer simulation can be increased by increasing the physical information in the various subsystem modules. The OC MHD computer simulation has been employed to perform parameter sweeps for various configurations and to examine the consequences of constraints placed on cycle parameters. The preliminary results for one attractive configuration are presented. In addition, the ANL engineering systems optimization code has been developed and employed to look at the minimum costs as computed by a detailed high temperature air preheater simulation.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Ill. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7364539
• Report Number(s): CONF-750669-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300101* -- MHD Generators-- Design & Development
AIR HEATERS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
COST
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
HEATERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MHD GENERATORS
OPEN-CYCLE MHD GENERATORS
OPTIMIZATION
PERFORMANCE
SIMULATION