ANNULAR FLOW MGD DEVICE USING POTASSIUM GAS.

Abstract

The overall objective of the experiment is to demonstrate the feasibility of a MGD thruster or generator which uses heat provided by a nuclear reactor. The principal problem associated with MGD devices powered with reactors is that of providing adequate gas conductivity in the channel. The equilibrium ionization at temperatures compatible with nuclear reactors is not sufficient for operation. However, it is possible in monatomic gases under certain conditions for the ionization to be considerably in excess of equilibrium. Potassium gas was selected as a working fluid as it is monatomic, has a vapor pressure in a useful range, and can be used in a Rankine cycle. An annular flow MGD device was constructed and is under test. A description of the device, theory of operation, and test results are provided in the following sections. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 29, 1966
Accession Number
AD0652654

Entities

People

  • C. A. Guderjahn

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Annular Flow
  • Conductivity
  • Cycles
  • Flow
  • Generators
  • Heat Energy
  • Ionization
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Potassium
  • Rankine Cycles
  • Thrusters
  • Vapor Pressure

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster