INVESTIGATION OF NON-EQUILIBRIUM IONIZATION FOR MHD ENERGY CONVERSION.

Abstract

A theoretical and applied research program directed toward prolonging the lifetime of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy converters to the range 1000 K to 2000 K is reported. The process of interest is the use of the self-induced electric field in MHD generator for electrical breakdown of appropriate working fluids of interest. Work is directed toward the use of potassium for Rankine (Vapor) cycles. The potassium vapor blowdown system reached operational capability. Argon blowdown shakedown runs are underway to determine the dynamic behavior of the system. Design of the Rankine cycle alkali metal vapor facility was completed. All major hardware items were placed on order for January-February 1964 delivery. A mathematically consistent model for the transport of electrons in a wet vapor was formulated. A complete set of equations was obtained to describe the electrical conductivity of a wet vapor as a function of the fluid pressure, temperature, and flow velocity, the external electromagnetic fields, the percent moisture, and the droplet radius. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 15, 1963
Accession Number
AD0427870

Entities

People

  • B. Hoffman

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alkali Metals
  • Blowdown
  • Conductivity
  • Conversion
  • Converters
  • Cycles
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Energy
  • Energy Conversion
  • Equations
  • Generators
  • Metal Vapors
  • Potassium
  • Rankine Cycles
  • Vapors

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene