Abstract
In this paper, numerical simulations are carried out to predict the performance of a new designed configuration of the disk magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, which segments the generator into dozens of parts. The behaviors and characteristics of segments are mainly investigated with number of parts at 24, 36, 60, 72, 90 adopted Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The numerical results declared that these division generators approach more stable plasma ionization and better performance than that of the conventional disk MHD generator at the same working conditions. The optimal value can be reached when the angle is 5–10 degrees (36–72 parts). Due to the division of the generator, the internal resistance is larger than that of the conventional disk channel that causes the reduction of Faraday current, hence the Lorentz force, j θ B , decreased. Therefore, the radial velocity increased and static pressure decreased. Consequently, the reduction of static pressure contributes to improvement to the plasma uniformity and ionization stability. Those features reveal that the designed configuration has the obvious advantage on raising energy conversion efficiency and power output.
Highlights
Disk magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generator has been widely investigated in the past few decades due to its high-efficiency on converting the thermal energy of a working gas into electrical power
The non-equilibrium plasma in the generator channel consists of ions, electrons, and atoms under two-temperature model [18]
When the the angle exceeds degrees, the static pressure boosts downstream, which means that the performance of partial boosts downstream, which means thatdownstream, the performance of partial tends to close to the degrees, the static pressure boosts which meanschannel that the performance of general partial channel tends to close to the general disk channel
Summary
Disk magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generator has been widely investigated in the past few decades due to its high-efficiency on converting the thermal energy of a working gas into electrical power. Energies 2018, 11, 127 generator by numerical simulations and experiments using seed-free high temperature argon gas [7,8]. They studied the influence of total inflow temperature between 7600–9600 K for the argon plasma. To reduce the static pressure and the effects of the Lorentz force, the positive inlet swirl was introduced [14] These works were theoretically valid to improve the generator performance with both seeded and seed free flow. To investigate the performance and plasma characteristics of the new designed generator, the numerical simulations were carried out for high temperature argon gas without any alkali seeds. The results showed that the optimal angle of the new designed channel could achieve more stable plasma ionization and approach better power generation performance than the general disk MHD generator does
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