A BASIC STUDY OF SLENDER CHANNEL ELECTROGASDYNAMICS,
Abstract
The phenomenon of unipolar ionized gas flow through a slender cylindrical channel is investigated analytically and experimentally. The study has in mind applications in high voltage low current power generation in electrogasdynamic (EGD) devices having high reliability and low specific weight. The theory deals with models in which the length of the channel is considerably larger than the diameter. In all previous EGD power generation studies the length was small compared to the width. In such generators the maximum pressure drop per stage is limited by breakdown potential of closely spaced electrodes. Multistaging leads to complexities because of higher viscous losses. The slender channel analysis presented shows that the electrode spacing and breakdown fields are much larger and that the pressure drop per stage is also increased. Initial experiments at supersonic velocities (MACH 2) indicate that stronger EGD interaction with a gas flow can be achieved at higher densities and velocities. The program establishes the feasibility of the slender channel concept and suggests that increased efficiencies can be obtained by producing colloidal rather than molecular ions at supersonic velocities. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0427967
Entities
People
- B. Kahn
- M. C. Gourdine