Some data obtained with an experimental MHD-power plant

Abstract

In the report a brief account is given of a large experimental complex MHD-power plant for open-cycle operation with combustion products of natural gas. The main distinguishing feature of such a plant in comparison with existing ones consists in the fact that with its help it is possible to investigate not only the MHD-generator itself but also other complicated components of MHD-power plants as well as to investigate the operation of major components of the MHD-power plant. Presumably the question as to the prospective application of open-cycle MHD-power plants for large-scale power generation can be answered only after the solution of complicated research and engineering problems associated with the development of a large-scale commercial pilot plant.

Another distinguishing feature of the described plant lies in the fact that it is intended for a long-period service.

The report gives main parameters of the plant, describes the technological scheme and its major components: the combustion chamber, the MHD-channel, the magnet system, facilities for injection and recovery of ionizing seeding, high-temperature air preheaters, end heat-exchanger systems, current inverting systems, etc.

Also the report gives a summary of the obtained experimental results. The MHD-generator output power amounted to 30 kW.

The comparison of the results on thermal and gasdynamic investigation carried out in the MHD-channel with theoretical calculations made on a refined one-dimensional flow model showed that they agree

After the investigations carried out on the described plant conditions were obtained not only for further wide-scale magnetohydrodynamic thermophysical and electrophysical investigations of MHD-power plants but also for the continuation of the work for investigating a simultaneous operation of the MHD-generator with other components of the plant as well as for developing more rational designs of the components and conditions for their operation.