EFFECTS OF ELECTRODE TEMPERATURE ON MHD GENERATOR PERFORMANCE,

Abstract

Experiments were performed in a combustion-driven MHD generator to determine the effects of electrode temperature and boundary-layer temperature on its performance. The generator was a single electrode pair guarded to avoid end effects by two electrode pairs both upstream and downstream. The five electrode pairs were preceded either by a cold (750 K) water-cooled metal plate or by a hot (2400 K) wall made of magnesium oxide. The electrodes were held at three temperature levels--775 K, 1475 K, and 1685 K--by controlling individual cooling circuits. Two sets of electrode boundary-layer temperature profiles were investigated: one resulting from the cold metal upstream wall and the other resulting from the hot ceramic upstream wall. Probes were installed in the insulator sidewall between the center pair of electrodes to measure the voltage profile in the gas. Visual and photographic observations of the electrodes were made. To interpret the experimental data, an electrical model of the boundary layer was postulated. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0839330

Entities

People

  • Robert Kessler

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Boundary Layer
  • Combustion
  • Dielectrics
  • Electrodes
  • Experimental Data
  • Generators
  • Layers
  • Magnesium
  • Magnesium Compounds
  • Metal Plates
  • Metals

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics