RESEARCH ON THE PHYSICS OF PULSED MHD GENERATORS

Abstract

Two systems are discussed for producing short pulses of electrical power by MHD principles. The first system is driven by condensed explosives and produces pulses lasting from 1 micro sec to 100 micro sec. The peak power generated to dat is 23 kw, with an energy output of 750 joules. The conversion efficiency, chemical to electrical, is 1%. Higher conversion efficiencies can be readily achieved. The second system uses the combustion of aluminum with cesium nitrate as the energy source for a supersonic MHD channel. The measured conductivity of the combustion products was 1000 mho/m. The highest measured peak power output was 29 watts. The experimental data indicate a large electrode drop which must be overcome before currents can flow in the generator. A favorable scaling potential is indicated.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0426448

Entities

People

  • C. N. Mckinnon
  • E. W. Evans
  • Malcolm S. Jones Jr.
  • R. C. Brumfield
  • V. H. Blackman

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Combustion
  • Combustion Chambers
  • Combustion Products
  • Conductivity
  • Electric Power
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Energy
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Generators
  • Ignition
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Pulsed Power

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Plasma Physics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow