Experiments on High-Temperature Xenon Plasma Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation

Abstract

Magnetohydrodynamic power generation experiments with seed-free pure xenon plasma have been conducted using a shock tunnel. The effects of inlet total temperatures between 5000 and 11 500 K and magnetic flux density on the generator performance and plasma characteristics are revealed. An enthalpy extraction ratio of 4.1% is achieved at an inlet total temperature of 6000 K, which is higher than that for argon at the same inlet total temperature. The enthalpy extraction ratio increases with increasing inlet total temperature and magnetic flux density, but saturates at a high inlet total temperature (>8000 K). The inhomogeneous and unstable plasma due to ionization instability at a low inlet total temperature changes to a homogeneous and stable state with an increase in the inlet total temperature. The change in plasma structure occurs at a temperature between 6500 and 7000 K, which is lower than that in the case of argon. Moreover, plasma stabilization is achieved at a low magnetic flux density even when the inlet total temperature is low.