PERFORMANCE OF COMBUSTION DISK MHD GENERATORS

Results of an experimental and analytical study of radial flow disk magnetohydrodynamic generators are presented. The overall goal of the study was to investigate disk generators for application to baseload power generation.; The experimental work consisted of a series of combustion-driven steady state experiments with a hot-wall channel operated in a superconducting magnet. Channel operating characteristics were examined under a variety of plasma temperatures, velocities, and magnetic field strengths. The channel was operated continuously in tests lasting several hours, with plasma temperatures ranging up to 2800(DEGREES)K and magnetic fields up to 5.5 Tesla. Voltage-current characteristics showed the expected linear behavior, and the expected dependence on channel operating conditions such as magnetic field strength and velocity was observed. Plasma conditions were inferred from the electrical conductivity, which was measured parallel to the applied magnetic field in the channel inlet nozzle. Steady voltage and current distributions on the segmented ring cathode were fairly uniform, with the largest deviations occurring as expected near open and short circuit conditions. Statistical analysis of fluctuating voltage signals showed strong positive correlations between probes mounted at different locations within the channel, indicating the absence of spoke-type plasma nonuniformities that have been observed in shock tube-driven disk experiments. Measured values of voltages and currents were less than expected, indicating the presence of substantial loss mechanisms in the channel. These losses were postulated to be caused by insulator wall current leakage and electrode voltage drop. Radial voltage profiles and open circuit voltage measurements verified the presence of these effects. An ideal homogeneous plasma model was developed to account for the losses, and values obtained for the loss terms are in agreement with relevant linear generator results. Limiting values of Hall fields were investigated using external voltage augmentation, and electric fields of 9 KV/m were observed in the channel with no evidence of breakdown.; The analytical work consisted of the development of a two-dimensional computer program to predict boundary layer phenomena in disk generators, including the effects of turbulence, variable gas properties and MHD interaction. The numerical results show the effect of the variable MHD body force across the insulating wall boundary layer, giving rise to boundary layer velocities higher than those in the core. This leads to greater skin friction and heat transfer losses than what would be predicted with a quasi-one dimensional model. Calculations carried out for baseload-sized generators show the expected dependence of boundary layer behavior on channel operating conditions such as wall temperature, swirl, magnetic field strength and channel loading.