Simulation and demonstration of magnetohydrodynamic energy conversion in a high-temperature inert gas
- Department of Energy Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-G3-38, Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan)
The present paper describes high-density magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy conversion in a high-temperature seed-free argon plasma, for which a quasi-three-dimensional numerical simulation and a single-pulse shock-tunnel-based demonstration are conducted. The numerical model simulates the two-dimensional profiles of both the electron and the heavy-particle system of the supersonic argon plasma flow, of which the total inflow temperature is 8000 K. The MHD power-generating experiment clarifies the relationship between the plasma quality and the energy conversion efficiency as functions of the total inflow temperature (7600-9600 K) and the applied magnetic flux density (up to 4.0 T). The increase in the total inflow temperature from 7600 to 9400 K and the application of magnetic flux with density of 0.5-1.2 T change the plasma state; unstable behavior accompanied by an inhomogeneous structure is transformed to a homogeneous and stable state, which results in the significant improvement of the power generation performance. Even in low-density magnetic flux, the attained generator performance is comparable or superior to previous results obtained using a conventional low-temperature seeded gas.
- OSTI ID:
- 21274204
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 16, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3083295; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Closed cycle MHD generator with nonuniform gas-plasma flow driving recombinated plasma clots
IMPACT OF DUST COOLING ON DIRECT-COLLAPSE BLACK HOLE FORMATION