1

INTRODUCTION

MHD (Magneto Hydro Dynamics) System is a new system of electric power

generation which is said to be of high efficiency and low pollution. As its name implies,
magneto-hydro-dynamics (MHD) is concerned with the flow of conducting fluid in presence of
magnetic and electric field. This fluid may be gas at elevated temperature or liquid metal like
sodium or potassium. The working fluid here is called plasma.

A MHD generator is a device for converting heat energy of fuel

directly into electric energy without a conventional electric generator. The basic difference
between a conventional generator and a MHD generator is in the nature of conductor.
MHD converter system is a heat engine whose efficiency , like all heat engines , is
increased by supplying the heat at the highest practical temperature and rejecting it at
the lowest practical temperature. MHD power generation looks the most promising of the
direct conversion techniques for the large scale production of electric power.

In advanced countries MHD generators are widely used but in developing

countries like India it is still under construction. This construction work is in progress at
Tiruchirapalli in Tamilnadu under joint efforts of BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre),
BHEL, Associated Cement Corporation and Russian technologists.
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EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS

In the early part of the nineteenth century

Michael Faraday (1832) conducted MHD experiments using the brackish
water of the river Thames flowing through the Earth's magnetic field. He
described the conversion process in MHD in 1893. However the actual
utilisation of this concept remained unthinkable.

The first successful power generation experiment,

developed by Richard Rosa in 1959, generated 10 kW with a timber
walled channel on the AVCO "Mark 1" facility in Boston,
Massachusetts. This success and the possibility of cheap MHD power led in
the 1960s to national programs in Britain, the Soviet Union, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland,
Italy, India, Australia and Israel. In 1965 the AVCO "Mark 5" generator successfully generated 32 MW
over a one minute run using alcohol at 45 kg/sec fired with oxygen. AVCO later developed a
sophisticated coal fired MHD channel for a 2,000 hour test program and demonstrated technical
feasibility under the most stringent conditions.

In 1972 in Moscow, a large experimental facility, the "U-25," used a 250 MW

natural gas combustor and generated 20 MW. The Soviets have been using very successfully mobile,
pulsed MHD generators throughout the Soviet Union, for seismic studies.
MHD programs in the United States are concentrated in two major facilities. A "Component
Development and Integration Facility" is located in Butte, Montana, and a "Coal Fired Flow Facility" at
the University of Tennessee to studies coal fired MHD, slag processing, seed handling and downstream
systems.

Within the past few years, the development of MHD power generating systems has been
accelerating with the effort focused on coal-fired open-cycle plasma MHD systems. Such systems
employ an ionized coal combustion gas seeded with K2 CO3as both the thermodynamic and
electrodynamic fluid in the MHD generator at temperatures up to 2800 K. and use heat exchangers
(radiant boiler) to transfer thermal energy from the MHD working fluid to a steam bottoming plant.
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MHD Lab at UCLA

QTOR magnet
and LM flow
loop

BOB magnet

JUPITER 2 MHD Heat Transfer Exp. in

UCLA FLIHY Electrolyte Loop

Less effort has been applied to closed-cycle liquid-metal and plasma MHD systems
since these systems are at a lower state of development than is the coal-fired open-cycle plasma MHD
system and appear to be more expensive and less efficient than open-cycle plasma MHD.
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NECESSITY OF MHD SYSTEM

It is a well known fact that at present a plenty of energy is needed

to sustain industrial and agricultural production, and the existing conventional energy sources
like coal, oil, uranium etc are not adequate to meet the ever increasing energy demands.
Consequently, sincere and untiring efforts have been made by scientists and engineers in
exploring the possibilities of harnessing energy from several non-conventional energy sources.
Magneto Hydro Dynamics(MHD) Generator is one of those energy sources. Today 80% of
total electricity produced in the world is hydel, while remaining 20% is produced from
nuclear, thermal, solar, geothermal energy and from magneto hydro dynamic power
generation.

PRINCIPLE OF MHD POWER GENERATION

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The principle of MHD generation is simple, based on Faraday’s law of

electromagnetic induction,i.e., when an electric conductor moves across a magnetic field,
a emf is induced in it, which produces an electric current. The conductor need not be a solid-
it may be a gas or liquid. This is the principle of the conventional generator also, where the
conductors consists of copper strips. In a MHD generator the solid conductors are replaced
by a gaseous conductor (high pressure,high temperature combustion gas), i.e. an ionized gas.
If such gas is passed at high velocity through a powerful or strong magnetic field,
i.e. suppose we have a charged particle (having charge ‘q’) moving at a high velocity ‘v’
towards right and a perpendicular magnetic field is applied. A magnetic force (Lorentz
Force)‘F’ acts on the charged particle. As shown in the figure below t he positive ions would
be accelerated towards the upper plate P1(cathode) and negative ions would be accelerated
towards the lower plate P2(anode) . If the P1 and P2 are externally connected through a
resistance, a current would flow through the resistance. Thus gas energy is directly converted
into electrical energy. This is the principle of MHD generator.
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Lorentz Force Law: F = q(v × B)

where,

 F = force(lorentz force) of the acting(charged) particle (vector)

 v = velocity of the particle (vector)
 q= charge of the particle (scalar)
 B = magnetic field (vector)

The vector F is perpendicular to both ‘v’ and ‘B’

according to Right Hand Rule.

Summarizing the above explaination we can say that in a MHD system the kinetic
energy of the working fluid is converted to electric energy.

The figure given below shows a comparison between a turbo generator and
a MHD generator.

Here, in turbogenerator, the conductor moving inside the magnetic

field is solid, while in MHD generator the conductor moving inside the magnetic field is
in gaseous state. But both of them are working on the same principle, doing the same
work, giving the same output. However, the efficiency of both of them varies, as mhd
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generator gives much better and more output than the turbogenerator, hence it is more
efficient.

The MHD conversion is known as direct energy conversion because it

produces electricity directly from heat source(derived from combustion of fuels) without the
necessity of the additional stage of steam generation as in a steam power plant.

MHD EQUATIONS

 Navier-Stokes equations with the Lorentz force

V 1 1
(1)  ( V   ) V   p    2 V  g  j  B
t  

 Continuity

V  0
(2)

 Energy equation with the Joule heating

 T  j2
C p   (V  )T   k 2T   q
(3)  t  

 Ampere’s law
j   1  B (vacuum :  0  4 10 7  1.257 10 6 H / m)

(4)

 Faraday’s law
B
   E
t
(5)
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 Ohm’s law*
j   (E  V  B )
(6)

Eqns.(4-6) are usually grouped together to give either a vector induction equation or a scalar
equation for electric potential.

MHD SYSTEM

The MHD System is broadly classified into:

(1)Open cycle System

(2)Closed cycle System

(i)Seeded inert gas systems

(ii) Liquid metal systems

COMPARISON BETWEEN OPEN CYCLE SYSTEM AND

CLOSED CYCLE SYSTEM

A close comparison between the two systems is tabulated below :

Open Cycle System Closed Cycle System

(1) Here the working fluid after generating (1) Here the working fluid is recycled to the
electrical energy is discharged to the heat sources and thus can be used again
atmosphere through a stack. and again.
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(2)In closed cycle system helium or
(2) The operation of MHD generator is done argon(with cesium seeding) is used as
directly on combustion products (like
the working fluid.
coal, oil, natural gas(hot gases thus formed
are seeded with small amount of an
ionized alkali metal like cesium or
potassium))in an open cycle system.

(3) Temperature requirement here is very high, (3) Here the temperature requirement is
i.e., about 2300˚C to 2700˚C . comparatively less, i.e., about 530˚C.

(4)The open-cycle MHD system involves (4) The closed-cycle MHD system involves
relatively-complex high-risk technology, comparatively-simple low-risk technology,
primarily because of the required high primarily because of comparatively lower
temperatures. working temperatures.

(5) As per the latest research and developmental (5) Till now no significant developments have
work, its efficiency is found to be more. occurred in this system, and its efficiency
appears to be comparatively less.

(6) They are less costly in comparison to closed (6) They are quite expensive.
cycle MHD system.

OPEN CYCLE MHD SYSTEM

An elementary open cycle MHD system, is shown in the figure below:

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The MHD generator resembles a rocket engine surrounded by a magnet.

Here the fuel (such as coal,oil,natural gas) is burnt in the combustion chamber (combustor)
to produce hot gases. The air required for combustion is provided from the air preheater. The
hot gases produced are then seeded with a small amount of an ionized alkali metal (cesium or
potassium) to increase the electrical conductivity of the gas. The ionization of potassium
(generally potassium carbonate is used as seed material) takes place due to gases produced at
temperatures of about 2300˚C to 2700˚C by combustion. The hot pressurized working fluid so
produced leaves the combustion chamber and passes through a convergent-divergent
nozzle.The gases comes out of the nozzle at high velocity and then enter the MHD
generator. The gases expand through the generator surrounded by powerful magnet. During the
motion of gas the positive and negative ions move to the electrodes and constitute an electric
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current(direct current). By using an inverter this direct current can be converted into
alternating current. The rejected gas passes through an air heater for preheating the inlet air.
The seed material is recovered in seed recovery for successive use. The nitrogen and sulphur
are removed for pollution control and then the gases are discharged into the atmosphere.

The above cycle is not suitable for commercial use. The exhaust gases
of MHD unit are still at a sufficiently hot temperature and it is possible to use them for
additional power generation in a steam turbine alternator unit. This increases the efficiency of
the process. Such cycle is known as Hybrid MHD-Steam Plant Cycle.

HYBRID MHD STEAM PART OPEN CYCLE SYSTEM

The above figure shows hybrid MHD steam cycle.Here coal

is processed and burnt in the combustor at high temperature (2750 to 3000 °K) and pressure
(7 to 15 at atmosphere) with preheated air to form the plasma. The plasma is then seeded
with small fraction (1%) of an alkali metal (potassium) introduced usually as a carbonate
powder or solution. The resulting mixture having an electrical conductivity of about 10 ohm/m is
expanded through a nozzle to increase its velocity and then passed through the high magnetic field
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(5 to 7 teslas) of the MHD generator. Electrodes channel provided electric contact between
flow and external load. The power o/p is dc and it is necessary to change it to ac before the
power can be fed to an electric grid.

The gas coming out of MHD generator is still sufficiently hot and is used to raise steam,
which generates additional energy in a steam in a steam turbine alternator unit. A part of this steam is
also used in a steam turbine which driver a compressor for compressing air for the MHD cycle. The
seed material is recovered from the gas the harmful emissions (sulphur) are also removed from gas
before it is discharged to atmosphere through a stack.

The above figure shows an open cycle MHD plant coupled

with a Steam plant, which increases the efficiency of steam plant having a maximum
conversion efficiency of about 40% by 10 – 20% , thus making the overall efficiency of the
plant 60% .

For efficient practical realization a MHD system must have following features:

1) Air superheating arrangement to heat the gas to around 2500 °C so that the electrical
conductivity of the gas is increased.
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2) The combustion chamber must have low heat losses.
3) A management to add a low ionization potential seed material to the gas to increase, its
conductivity.
4) A water cooled but electrically insulating expanding dust with long life electrodes.
5) A magnet capable of producing high magnetic flux density.
6) Seed recovery apparatus necessary for both environmental and economical reasons.

CLOSED CYCLE MHD SYSTEM

The closed cycle inert gas MHD system was conceived in 1965. The main
disadvantages of the open cycle system is very high temperature requirement and a very
chemically active flow which could be removed by closed cycle MHD system. As the name
suggests the working fluid in closed cycle, is circulated in a closed loop. The working fluid
is helium or argon with cesium seeding.
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The given above figure shows a closed cycle MHD system. The
complete system has three distinct but interlocking loops. On the left is the external

heating loop, coal is gasified and the gas having a high heat value of about 5.35 MJ/kg and
temperature of about 530°C is burnt in a combustor to produce heat. In the heat exchanger
HX, this heat is transferred to argon the working fluid of MHD cycle. The combustion
products after passing through the airpreheater (to recover a part of the heat of combustion
product) and purifiers (to remove harmful emissions) and discharged to atmosphere.

The loop in the centre is the MHD loop. The hot argon gas is seeded
with cesium and passed through MHD generator. The dc power output of MHD generator is
converted to A.C. by the inverter and is then feed into the grid.

The loop shown on the right hand side in the figure is the steam loop
for further recovering the heat of the working fluid and converting this heat into electrical
energy. The fluid passes through the heat exchanges HX 2 where it imparts its heat to water
which gets converted to steam. This steam is used partly for during a turbine which runs the
compressor partly for turbine driver an alternator. The output of the alternator is also
connected to the grid. The working fluid goes back to the heat exchanger and exchanges HX
after passing through compressor and intercooler.

A closed system can provide more useful power conversion at lower

temperatures (around 1900˚ K as compared to 2500˚K for open cycle system).
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ADVANTAGES OF MHD SYSTEM

MHD generation offers several advantages as compared to other

methods of electric generation. They are as follows:
1) The conversion efficiency of a MHD system can be about 50% (still higher expected) as
compared to less than 40 percent for the most efficient steam plants.
2) Large amount of power is generated.
3) It has no moving parts, so more reliable.
4) It has ability to reach the full power level as soon as started.
5) Because of higher efficiency, the overall generation cost of an MHD plant will be less.
6) The more efficient heat utilization would decreases the amount of heat discharged to
environment and the cooling water requirements would also be lower.
7) The higher efficiency means better fuel utilization. The reduced fuel consumption
would offer additional economic and social benefits.
8) The Closed cycle system produces power free of pollution.
9) The size of plant is considerably smaller than conventional fossil fuel plants.
10) It is suitable for peak power generation and emergency service.

The following table shows the pollutant emission of an MHD plant and a conventional
steam plant. Pollutant emission in million tons per day is based on use of coal having 3%
sulphur contents.

1000 MWC Conventional 1000 MWC MHD Plant

steam plant. using coal as a fuel.

Particulate matter 33 3

Sulphur oxides 450 3

Nitrogen oxides 80 4
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DISADVANTAGES OF MHD SYSTEM

Even after having a number of advantages, MHD System has its own
disadvantages that prohibits its commercialization. The disadvantages of MHD System
are enlisted below :

1) MHD Systems suffer from the reverse flow (short circuits) of electrons through the
conducting fluids around the ends of the magnetic field.
This loss can be reduced by:
(i) increasing aspect ratio (L/d) of the generator.
(ii) by permitting the magnetic field poles to extend beyond the end of
electrodes.
(iii) by using insulated vanes in the fluid ducts and at the inlet and outlet
of the generator.

2) There will be high friction losses and heat transfer losses. The friction loss may be
as high as 12% input.

3) The MHD system operates at a very high temperature to obtain high electrical
conductivity. But the electrodes must be relatively at low temperatures and hence
the gas in the vicinity of the electrodes is cooler. This increases the resistivity
of the gas near the electrodes and hence there will be a very large voltage
drop across the gas film. By adding the seed material, the resistivity can be
reduced.

4) The MHD system needs very large magnets and this is a major expense.

5) Coal,when used as a fuel, poses the problem of molten ash which may short
circuit the electrodes. Hence, oil or natural gas are considered to be much
better fuels for this system. The restriction on the use of fuel makes the
operation more expensive.
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NEED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Focussing upon the advantages of a MHD system while considering its

disadvantages, we can conclude that this system needs further developments for
commercialization.

However the commercial use of MHD concept has not been possible because
numerous technological advancements are needed prior to commercialization of MHD
systems. Most of these are related to material problem created by the simultaneous presence
of high temperature and a highly corrosive and abrasive environment. The MHD channel
operates on extreme conditions of temperature, magnetic and electric fields. Search is on for
better insulator and electrode materials which can with stand the electrical, thermal,
mechanical and thermo-chemical stresses and corrosion.
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APPLICATIONS

1.) Power generation in space craft

2.) Hypersonic wind tunnel experiments

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3.) Defense application

4.) The “Yamoto” : A boat built by Mitsubishi powered solely by MHD propulsion can travel
at upto 15 km/hr.
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CONCLUSION

With the increased industrial and agricultural activities, power demand

is also highly increased. In such situation, the country is sure to fall short of the energy
demand by the first decade of next century. This means an additional capacity of power is
required in the next 10 years. The answer to this is in non conventional energy.

The MHD power generation is in advanced stage today and closer to

commercial utilization. Significant progress has been made in development of all critical
components and sub system technologies. Coal burning MHD combined steam power plant
promises significant economic and environmental advantages compared to other coal
burning power generation technologies. It will not be long before the technological problem
of MHD systems will be overcame and MHD system would transform itself from non-
conventional to conventional energy sources.
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REFERENCES

BOOKS

1) Non-Conventional energy source

By G.D. Rai
2) Electrical Power System
By Dr. Inamdar
3) Generation Distribution & Utilization of Electrical Energy.
By C.L.Wadhwa
4) A Textbook of Power System Engineering
By R.K. Rajput

WEBSITES

5) www.scribd.com
6) www.wikipedia.org
7) www.gebooki.com
8) www.howstuffworks.com