Investigations to Decrease Losses in Magetohydrodynamic (MHD) Generators

Abstract

The research program described in the report has included work on boundary layer studies, current distribution and current leakage in MHD generators, and boundary layer diagnostics. A computer program which has been used successfully to calculate conventional turbulent boundary layers has been modified by adding the MHD terms in the momentum and energy equations. Current patterns in conducting wall generators were measured and showed good agreement with theoretical predictions for the anode. The surface-sheath voltage drop was responsible for less good agreement at the cathode. A new method which uses Faraday splitting of laser modes is suggested for the measurement of electron concentration in the boundary layer. A laser doppler velocimeter and its applications to boundary layer velocity measurements in the Stanford generator is described.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0740560

Entities

People

  • Charles H. Kruger
  • Morton Mitchner
  • Robert H. Eustis

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Boundary Layer
  • Combustion
  • Detection
  • Diffraction
  • Doppler Effect
  • Emission
  • Free Stream
  • Frequency Shift
  • Gas Flow
  • Geometry
  • Laser Resonators
  • Lasers
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Measurement
  • Scattering
  • Waveplates

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Pulsed-Laser Deposition
  • Microelectronics