MHD Power Generation Report

Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation System
CHAPTER – 1
INTRODUCTION
It is well known that man had always been trying to find something new to
achieve a new aim 80% of total electricity produced in the world is hydras while
remaining 20% is produced from nuclear, thermal, solar, Geothermal energy and from
magneto hydro dynamic power generation.
We all are aware of power generation using hydel, thermal and nuclear resources.
In all the systems, the potential energy or thermal energy is first converted in to,
mechanical energy and then the mechanical energy is converted in to elecrtrical energy.
The conversion of potential energy in to mechanical energy is considerably high (70 to
80%) but conversion of thermal energy in to mechanical energy is considerably poor (40
to 45%).In addition to this the mechanical components required for converting heat
energy in to mechanical energy are large in number and considerably costly. This requires
huge capital cost as well as maintenance cost also. The scientists are thinking to
eliminate the mechanical system and convert thermal in to direct electrical energy for the
last 50years and more. Unfortunately, no system is yet developed in large capacity(MW)
to compete with conventional systems. In addition to this the efficiency of such
conversion remained considerably poor (less than10%)therefore, these power generating
systems are not developed on large scale.
MHD power generation is a new system of electric power generation which is
said to be of high efficiency and low pollution. In advanced countries MHD generator 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 BA RC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), BHEL, Associated cement
corporation and Russian technologists.
SND COE & RC, Yeola 1

As its name implies, magneto-hydro-dynamic (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. 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 conventional
generator and MHD generator is in the nature of conductor.
1.1 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS
The possibilities of improving significantly the conventional energy conversion
processes are mainly related to technological progress. They still have small margins
and for this reason the researchers have turned to the development of other systems,
socalled no-conventional. In the conventional conversion systems, a significant loss of
energy occurs in the transition from thermal to mechanical energy (thermodynamic
conversion). Research is focusing its efforts on conversion processes that do not use
this step. The absence of moving mechanical parts may allow the achievement of
operating temperatures much higher than those typical of conventional processes,
resulting therefore, at least potentially, a higher conversion efficiency. These processes
are known as direct conversion, as primary and secondary energy is converted directly
into electricity without the need to pass through a stage of mechanical energy. The
direct energy conversion methods that nowadays are taken into account in terms of
industrial application are:
• Photovoltaic generation systems (Photovoltaic Solar Cells)
• Electrochemical energy conversion (Fuel Cells)
• Magnetohydrodynamic generation(MHD)
• Electrogasdynamic generation(EGD)
• Thermoeletric power generation
In the first two processes the conversion from the primary to the secondary energy
form takes place avoiding the conversion in the intermediate thermal energy. The
Figure 1 shows the energy conversion stages in the direct generation of electric energy.
The envisioned system(fig.2) contains two major components: A Stirling engine,

providing mechanical energy by utilizing the temperature difference between the waste
heat and the environment; and a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generator using
the mechanical input as well as some of the thermal energy delivered by the waste heat,
to generate electricity. The MHD generator provides an electron flow based on
Faraday’s law of induction. A moving stream of liquid gallium is exposed to the
magnetic field of permanent magnets, thus inducing voltage and currents. A typical
MHD system operates at temperatures of over 1000°C as it employs either liquid
copper or plasma as its moving conductor. The here proposed solution for low-
temperature operation uses Gallium, an element which melts at 30°C, thus simplifying
design constraints.

Figure 1: Direct energy conversion stages
Figure 2: Energy flow chart of the proposed thermal to electric energy conversion system.
CHAPTER -2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1MAGNETO HYDRODYNAMICS (MHD)

Magneto hydrodynamics or magneto fluid dynamics is the academic discipline
which studies the dynamic of electrically conducting fluids. Examples of such fluids
include plasmas, liquid metals, and salt water. The word magneto hydrodynamics (MHD)
is derived from magneto- meaning magnetic field, and hydro- meaning liquid, and –
dynamics meaning movement. The field of MHD was initiated by Hannes Alfven, for
which he received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1970.
a) Magneto hydrodynamic Generator
The MHD Generator or dynamo transforms thermal energy or kinetic energy
directly into electricity. MHD generators are different from traditional electric generators
in that they can operate at high temperatures without moving parts. MHD was eagerly
developed because the exhaust of a plasma MHD generator is a flame, still able to heat
the boilers of a steam power plant. So high-temperature MHD was developed as a
topping cycle to increase the efficiency of electric generation, especially when burning
coal or natural gas. It has also been applied to pump liquid metals and for quiet
submarine engines.
The basic concept underlying the mechanical and fluid dynamos is the same. The
fluid dynamo, however, uses the motion of fluid or plasma to generate the currents which
generate the electrical energy. The mechanical dynamo, in contrast, uses the motion of
mechanical devices to accomplish this. The functional difference between an MHD
Generator and an MHD dynamo is the path the charged particles follow.
b) What is Plasma?
Plasma is the fourth state of matter. To put it very simply, plasma is an ionised
gas, a gas into which sufficient energy is provided to free electron from atoms or
molecules and to allow species, ions and electrons, to coexist.
c) Development of MHD power generators

The first recorded MHD investigation was conducted in 1821 by the English
chemist Humphry Davy when he showed that an arc could be deflected by a magnetic
field. More than a decade later, Michael Faraday sought to demonstrate motional
electromagnetic induction in a conductor moving through Earths geomagnetic field. To
this end, he said up in January 1832 a rudimentary open circuit MHD generator, or flow
meter, on the waterloo bridge across the river Thames in London. His experiment was
unsuccessful owing to the electrodes being electro chemically polarised, an effect not
understood at the time.
Faraday soon turned his attention to other aspects of electromagnetic induction,
and MHD power generation received little attention until the 1920s and 30s, when Bela
Karlovitz, a Hungarian- born engineer, first proposed a gaseous MHD system. In 1938 he
and Hungarian Engineer D. Halasz set up an experimental facility at the westing house
electric corporation research laboratories and by 1946 had shown that, through seeding
the working gas, small amount of electric power could be extracted. The project was
abandoned, however, largely because of lack of understanding of the conditions required
to make the work in gas an efficient conductor.
d) Research significance
In our state, 65% of power is generated from thermal power plant and 35% of
power generated from other sources. In India the annual power consumption is about 1,
40,000 MW in which the power deficiency is about 11,000 MW.
MHD Power Generation is a new technique with directly converting the thermal
energy into electric power. It was observed that the efficiency of a coal fired thermal
power plant is about 40% and the efficiency of MHD power generation system is about
10-20%. If this MHD generator is coupled with thermal power plant, the efficiency of the
power plant will be increased up to 60%.
In this regard an attempt as been made to study the systematic analysis and
performance of a magneto hydrodynamic generator equipped with a coal fired thermal
power plant, Tuticorin Thermal Power Station located at thoothukudi district. TTPS is
one of the major power generation plant developed in Tamilnadu to meet the growing
demand for power. The ultimate capacity of the plant is 1050 MW under 3 stages. The
fuel gas coming from the chimney of the plant was taken as the conducting fluid for
MHD generator and performed the experimental program.
2.2 HISTORY OF MHD
 Michael Faraday first proposed the idea in his "Bakerian lecture for 1832" to
the Royal Society.
 The conversion process in MHD was initially described by Michael Faraday in
1893. However, the actual utilization of this concept remained unthinkable.
 The first known attempt to develop an MHD generator was made at Westing
house research laboratory (USA) around 1938.
 The initial patent on MHD is by B. Karlovitz, U.S. Patent No. 2,210,918,

"Process for the Conversion of Energy", August 13, 1940.
 In the 1960s, AVCO Everett Aeronautical Research began a series of
experiments, ending with the Mk. V generator of 1965.
 The first MHD-steam power plant U-25 was put into operation was of 75MW unit
in USSR of which 25MW is generated by MHD means in early 1970’s & this
work has been progressing fruitfully.
 The first pilot plant was set up in Tiruchirapalli (by BARC). A five-year plan was
signed in February 1975 which included 22 spheres of applied science and
technology connected with the MHD energy generation.
 The Japanese program in the late 1980s concentrated on closed-cycle MHD.
 In 1986, Professor Hugo Karl Messerle at The University of Sydney researched
coal-fueled MHD.
 The Italian program began in 1989 with a budget of about 20 million $US, and
had two main development area:
1. MHD Modeling
2. Superconducting magnet development
 In 2001 AIAA use MHD generator for supersonic flights
CHAPTER -3
METHODOLOGY
3.1 PRINCIPLE OF MHD POWER GENERATION

The principle of MHD generation is simple, discovered by faraday when an electric

conductor moves across a magnetic field, a emf. Is induced in it, which produced an
electric current. This is the principle of the conventional generator also, where the
conductors consist of copper strips. In MHD generator the solid conductors are replaced
by a gaseous conductor; i.e. an ionized gas. If such gas is passed at high velocity
through a powerful 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 ‘F’ acts on the charged particle. Show in fig.4 Shows
Positively charged particles as forced upward and negatively charged particle is forced
downward. The positive ions would be accelerated towards the upper plate P1, and
negative ions would be accelerated towards the plate P2. If the P1 and P2 are externally
connected through a resistance, a current would flow through the resistance. Thus
gas energy directly converted into electrical energy. This is the principle of MHD
generator. A MHD conversion is known as direct energy conversion because it
produced electricity directly from heat source without the necessity of the additional
stage of steam generation as in a steam power plant. Fig.4 shows principle of MHD
generator.
Lorentz Force- This force on the charged particle (vector),
F = q (v × B)
where,
 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 the Right hand
rule.

Figure 3: Lorentz Force

Figure 4: Principle of MHD power generation

3.2 TYPE OF MHD GENERATOR
The limiting performance from the point of view of efficiency of a heat engine is
limited by the Carnot cycle. A system employing an MHD generator offers the potential
of an ultimate efficiency in the range of 60 to 65%. This is much better than the 35 to
40% efficiency that can be achieved in a modern conventional thermal power station.
The power output of an MHD generator for each cubic meter of its channel volume is
proportional to the product of the gas conductivity, the square of the gas velocity, and the
square of the strength of the magnetic field through which the gas passes. For MHD
generators to operate competitively with good performance and reasonable physical
dimensions, the electrical conductivity of the plasma must be in a temperature range
above about 1800K.
These issues are affected by the choice of one of the three MHD generator
designs. These are the
1. Faraday generator
2. Hall generator
3. disk generator
1. Faraday generator
A simple Faraday generator would consist of a wedge-shaped pipe or tube of
some non-conductive material. When an electrically conductive fluid flows through the
tube, in the presence of a significant perpendicular magnetic field, a charge is induced in
the field, which can be drawn off as electrical power by placing the electrodes on the
sides at 90 degree angles to the magnetic field. The main practical problem of a Faraday
generator is that differential voltages and currents in the fluid short through the electrodes
on the sides of the duct. The most powerful waste is from the Hall effect current. Shows
fig.6 faraday generator.

2.Hall generator
The most common answer is to overcome the problems of faradays generator is
the Hall effect to create a current that flows with the fluid. The normal scheme is to place
arrays of short, vertical electrodes on the sides of the duct. The first and last electrodes in
the duct supply the load. Each other electrode is shorted to an electrode on the opposite
side of the duct. Losses are less than that of a Faraday generator, and voltages are higher
because there is less shorting of the final induced current. However, this design has
problems because the speed of the material flow requires the middle electrodes to be
offset to catch the Faraday currents. As the load varies, the fluid flow speed varies,
misaligning the Faraday current with its intended electrodes, and making the generator
efficiency very sensitive to its load.
Figure 5: Hall Generator

Figure 6: Faraday Generator

3.Disk generator
The third, currently most efficient answer is the Hall effect disk generator. This
design currently holds the efficiency and energy density records for MHD generation. A
disk generator has fluid flowing between the center of a disk, and a duct wrapped around
the edge. The magnetic excitation field is made by a pair of circular Helmholtz coils
above and below the disk. The Faraday currents flow in a perfect dead short around the
periphery of the disk. The Hall effect currents flow between ring electrodes near the
center and ring electrodes near the periphery. Another significant advantage of this design
is that the magnet is more efficient. First, it has simple parallel field lines. Second,
because the fluid is processed in a disk, the magnet can be closer to the fluid, and
magnetic field strengths increase as the 7th power of distance. Finally, the generator is
compact for its power, so the magnet is also smaller. The resulting magnet uses a much
smaller percentage of the generated power.

Figure 7: Disk Generator
3.3 COMPARISON BETWEEN ATURBO GENERATOR AND A MHD

GENERATOR
Here, in turbo generator, 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 working on the same principle.
However, the efficiency of both of them varies, as MHD generator gives much
better and more output than the turbo generator.

Figure 8: Comparison between a turbo generator and a MHD generator.
CHAPTER-4
SYSTEM DESIGN

4.1 MHD SYSTEM
There are two types of MHD System

1.) Open cycle System
2.) Closed cycle System
In open cycle system the working fluid after generating electrical energy is
discharged to the atmosphere through a stack. In a closed cycle system, the working fluid
is recycled to the heat sources and thus used again and again. The operation of MHD
generator directly on combustion products in an open cycle system. In open cycle system
working fluid is air. In closed cycle system helium or argon is used as the working fluid.
4.1.1 OPEN CYCLE MHD SYSTEM

An elementary open cycle MHD system is shown in fig.9 The MHD generator
resembles a rocket engine surrounded by a magnet the coal is burnt to produce hot gas.
The hot gas is then seeded with a small amount of an ionized alkali metal (cesium or
potassium) to increase the electrical conductivities of gas. The gas expands 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 current. The rejected gas
passes through an air heater for preheating the inlet air. The seed material is recovered for
successive use. The nitrogen and sulphor are removing for pollution controlled and then
gasses are discharged to the atmosphere. The above cycle is not suitable for commercial
use. The exhaust gases of MHD unit are still at a sufficiently hot temperature it is
possible to use for additional power generation in a steam turbine alternator unit. This is
increase the efficiency of process. Such cycle is known as hybrid MHD-steam plant
cycle. Figure shows hybrid MHD steam cycle, 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

(potassium) introduced usually as a carbonate powder or solution usually as a carbonate

powder or solution.
Figure 9: Schematic of open cycle MHD generation.
4.1.2 CLOSED CYCLE MHD SYSTEM

The closed cycle inert gas MHD system was conceived 1965. The main
disadvantages of the open cycle system are very high MHD Power Generation
temperature requirement and a very chemically active flow 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. Figure show
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 air preheater (to recover a part of the heat
of combustion product) and purifiers (To remove harmful emissions) and discharged to
atmosphere. The loop in the center is the MHD loop.
Figure 11: Closed cycle MHD generator using liquid metal as working fluid coupled with
Steam generator.
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 fig 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 HX2 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 to
the grid. The working fluid goes back to the heat exchanges HX) after passing through
compressor and intercooler.
A closed system can provide more useful power conversion at lower temperatures
(around 1900o K as compared to 2500o K for open cycle system).
4.2 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPEN CYCLE AND CLOSED CYCLE
SYSTEM-
Open Cycle System Closed Cycle System
 Working fluid after generating  Working fluid is recycled

electrical energy is discharged to to the heat sources and
the atmosphere through a thus is used again.
stack.
 Operation of MHD generator is  Helium or argon (with

done directly on combustion cesium seeding) is used
products. as the working fluid.
 Temperature requirement:  Temperature requirement:

2300˚C to 2700˚C. about 530˚C to 1400 ˚C.
 Capacity of these plant is about  Capacity of plant is more

100 MW. than 200 MW.
 Less costly compare to closed  They are quit expensive.

cycle system.

CHAPTER-5
SYSTEM COMPOSITION
5.1 NEAR FUTURE POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

5.1.1 Energy Re-Circulating LNG/MHD System
Figure 12. shows proposed energy re-circulating type MHD power generation
system with LNG heat source which has been proposed by Prof. Y. Okuno at Tokyo
Institute of Technology. The system does not combine with any other system and is called
closed cycle MHD single system. We can see that plant efficiency is expected over 60%
even the enthalpy extraction ratio of the MHD generator is only 30%. Thermal input to
the MHD generator is 200% and electric output is 60% in spite of only 100% input
thermal energy to the system because 100 of heat is recovered by regenerator. Enthalpy
extraction ratio of above 30 achieved by experiments with shock tube facility. So this
estimation of efficiency is considered to be realistic in near future.

Figure 12: Energy Re-circulating type MHD single system with LNG as heat source.
5.1.2 Energy Re-Circulating Nuclear/Gas Turbine System
It is pointed out that efficiency of power generation system with nuclear fission
reactor must be increased in order to reduce CO2 emission. Energy re-circulating type
gas-turbine single system with nuclear reactor is proposed. Schematic of this system is
shown in Figure 13.
Here, working gas is re-circulating helium and high temperature gas-cooled
reactor (HTGR) is considered to be used in this system. We can expect high plant
efficiency about 47% in contrast with 35% for the case of BWR/steam-turbine system.
This remarkable increase in efficiency results in saving by over 25% of nuclear fuel
consumption. Main issue may be development of increase operating temperature.

Figure 13: Energy Re-circulating type gas-turbine single system with nuclear reactor as
heat source.
5.1.3 CO2 Recovery Type MHD Power System

To reduce CO2 emission is one of the urgent requirements to reduce global climate
change based on green house effect. If we burn fossil fuel, CO 2 must be exhausted.
Therefore, we have to develop two directions;
1) increase plant efficiency which leads to reduce fuel consumption
2)CO2 recovery type power generation system.
We discuss how to increase plant efficiency using MHD generator previously. We
would like to discuss how to design CO 2 recovery type plant. At first, if we burn fossil
fuel with air, exhaust gas contains so much N2 and we have to separate CO2 from N2 and
H2O. This process requires so much energy and again increases CO 2 production. If
combustion exhaust contains only CO2 and H2O, it is easy to separate CO2 from H2O.
This can be achieved by burning fuels with pure oxygen. Of course some amount of
energy loss to produce oxygen takes place. However, temperature of combustion gas can
be increased and if this increase in temperature can be effectively used to increase of
plant efficiency, such penalty can be compensated. Basic ideas of CO2 recovery type
MHD power generation system are as follows: Heat source is coal synthesized gas
burning with pure oxygen. Coal must be considered as a heat source in near future with in
200 years instead of LNG or oil. Nitrogen free with oxygen separate plant is included.
Figure 14 shows typical CO2 recovery type MHD generator plant proposed by Prof. N.
Kayukawa at Hokkaido University. In this system, H2 and CO is burned with pure oxygen
to drive MHD generator at the temperature around 28000C. Downstream part after MHD
generator, heat is recovered by regenerative coal gasification process, fuel pre-heating,
and steam decomposition. Energy penalty for oxygen production plant can be recovered
due to operate at high temperature with high efficiency of the MHD generator. It is
known that only MHD generators can be operated such high temperature regime. Total
plant efficiency can be expected as over 50% with CO2 recovery.

Figure 14. CO2 Recovery type MHD generator plant
5.2 ADVANTAGES OF MHD GENERATION

MHD generation offers several advantages as compared to other methods of electric
generation.
 The conversion efficiency of a MHD system can be 50% as compared to less than
40 percent for the most efficient steam plants.
 Large amount of power is generated.
 It has no moving parts, so more reliable.

 It has ability to reach the full power level as soon as started.
 Because of higher efficiency, the overall generation cost of an MHD plant will be
less.
 The more efficient heat utilization would efficient heat utilization would
decreases the amount of heat discharged to environment and the cooling
water requirements would also be lower.
 The higher efficiency means better fuel utilization. The reduce fuel
consumption would offer additional economic and social benefits.
 The Closed cycle system produces power free of pollution.
Following table show the pollutant emission of an MHD plant and a conventional
steam plant. Pollutant emission m tons per day based on use of coal having-3 percent
sulphur contents.
1000 MWC 1000 MHD plant

conventional steam using coal as a fuel
plant
Particulate matter 33 3
Sulphur oxides 450 3
Nitrogen oxides 80 4
Table 1: The pollutant emission of an MHD plant and a conventional steam plant.
5.3 DISADVANTAGES OF MHD SYSTEM

 Suffers from reverse flow (short circuits) of electrons through the conducting
fluids around the ends of the magnetic field.
 Needs very large magnets and this is a major expense.
 High friction and heat transfer losses.
 High operating temperature.
 Coal used as fuel poses problem of molten ash which may short circuit the
electrodes. Hence, oil or natural gas are much better fuels for MHDs. Restriction
on use of fuel makes the operation more expensive.
5.4 APPLICATIONS OF MHD SYSTEM
 Power generation in space craft.
 Hypersonic wind tunnel experiments.
 Defense application.
A) Other uses of MHD Technology
 The “Yamoto”: a boat built by Mitsubishi powered solely by MHD propulsion
 Can travel at up to 15 km/hr
Figure15: “Yamoto”: a boat built by Mitsubishi powered solely by MHD propulsion

B) Generator efficiency
 As of 1994, the 22% % efficiency record for closed-cycle disc MHD generators
was held by Tokyo Technical Institute
 The peak enthalpy extraction in these experiments reached 30.2%.
 These efficiencies make MHD unattractive, by itself, for utility power generation,
since conventional Rankine cycle power plants easily reach 40%.
 MHD and a steam Rankine cycle can convert fossil fuels into electricity with an
estimated efficiency up to 60 percent, compared to the 40 percent of a typical coal
plant.
 One possible conductive coolant is the molten salt reactor's molten salt, since
molten salts are electrically conductive.
C) Developments by nations
 Indian development
 Russian developments
 Japanese development
 Australian development
 Italian development
 Chinese development
 U.S. development
Different countries of the world have undertaken the development of MHD at one
level or the other as indicated below: -
Sr. COUNTRY NATURE OF MHD YEAR
No.
1 Montana, 50MW Component Development and 1992
USA integrated Facility
2 USA 250MW Engineering Test Facility(ETF) 1985
3 USA Commercial Demonstration Plant In progress

4 Tokyo Japan 20MW Demonstration Plant 2010

5 USSR 25MW pilot plan 1971
6 Moscow Institute of High Temperature 1980
USSR
7 Tiruchirapali 15MW fluidized bed combustion Under
India construction
Table 2: Name of countries who have undertaken the development of MHD.
The following countries are currently working on MHD and doing one
collaboration or the other such as Poland, China, and Netherland, Japan in this field.
D) Economics
 MHD generators have not been employed for large scale mass energy conversion
because other techniques with comparable efficiency have a lower lifecycle
investment cost.
 Because of the high temperatures, the non-conducting walls of the channel must
be constructed from an exceedingly heat-resistant substance such as yttrium oxide
or zirconium dioxide to retard oxidation
 the electrodes must be both conductive and heat-resistant at high temperatures.
AVCO's coal-fueled MHD generator at the CDIF with tests of water-cooled
copper electrodes capped with platinum, tungsten, stainless steel, and electrically
conducting ceramics.

CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSION
Magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) is a new system of electrical power generation
which is said to be of high efficiency and low pollution. In advance countries MHD
generation are widely used but in developing countries is still under construction.
Efficiency matter the most for establishing a power plant, the MHD power plant have an
overall efficiency of 55-60%. But a thermal power plant has an efficiency of only 35%
means the power generation by a thermal power plant is not efficient.

6.1 SCOPE OF MHD

 Even MHD generators have disadvantages the researches are going on because of
its special features.
 NASA work on how the Earth's atmosphere acts like a MHD generator.
REFERENCES
1) Ajith Krishnan R., and Jinshah B. S. (2013)- Magnetohydrodynamic Power

Generation. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3,
Issue 6, ISSN 2250-3153.

2) E. Cosoroaba and B. Fahimi (2015)- Efficiency Oriented Design Guidelines for A

Magnetohydrodynamic Generator System. 978-1-4799-7941-7/15©2015 IEEE
3) Eva Cosoroaba and Babak Fahimi (2016)- Temperature Dependence of Efficiency in

Renewable Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation Systems. 978-1-5090-0737-
0/16/©2016 IEEE
4) Eva Cosoroaba and Babak Fahimi (2016)- Magnetohydrodynamics in Thermal to

Electric Energy Conversion. 978-1-5090-1032-5/16/©2016 IEEE.
5) Manabu Tanaka and Yoshihihiro Okuno (2017)- Performance of A Seed -Free Disk
Magnetohydrodynamic Generator with Self- Excited Joule Heating in The Nozzle.0093-
3813©2017 IEEE.
6) Manabu Tanaka Yu Aoki, Liang Zhao and Yoshihihiro Okuno (2016)- Experiment On
High- Temperature Xenon Plasma Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation. 0093-
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Exchange in Next Generation Power Plants.978-1-4673-7172-8/15/©2015 IEEE
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Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation System

SND COE & RC, Yeola 1

As its name implies, magneto-hydro-dynamic (MHD) is concerned with the

The envisioned system(fig.2) contains two major components: A Stirling engine,

SND COE & RC, Yeola 3

Figure 1: Direct energy conversion stages

2.1MAGNETO HYDRODYNAMICS (MHD)

c) Development of MHD power generators

 The initial patent on MHD is by B. Karlovitz, U.S. Patent No. 2,210,918,

3.1 PRINCIPLE OF MHD POWER GENERATION

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The principle of MHD generation is simple, discovered by faraday when an electric

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Figure 3: Lorentz Force

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Figure 4: Principle of MHD power generation

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Figure 5: Hall Generator

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Figure 6: Faraday Generator

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Figure 7: Disk Generator

3.3 COMPARISON BETWEEN ATURBO GENERATOR AND A MHD

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Figure 8: Comparison between a turbo generator and a MHD generator.

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4.1 MHD SYSTEM

There are two types of MHD System

4.1.1 OPEN CYCLE MHD SYSTEM

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(potassium) introduced usually as a carbonate powder or solution usually as a carbonate

Figure 9: Schematic of open cycle MHD generation.

4.1.2 CLOSED CYCLE MHD SYSTEM

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Open Cycle System Closed Cycle System

 Working fluid after generating  Working fluid is recycled

 Operation of MHD generator is  Helium or argon (with

 Temperature requirement:  Temperature requirement:

 Capacity of these plant is about  Capacity of plant is more

 Less costly compare to closed  They are quit expensive.

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5.1 NEAR FUTURE POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

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5.1.3 CO2 Recovery Type MHD Power System

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Figure 14. CO2 Recovery type MHD generator plant

5.2 ADVANTAGES OF MHD GENERATION

 It has no moving parts, so more reliable.

1000 MWC 1000 MHD plant

5.3 DISADVANTAGES OF MHD SYSTEM

Figure15: “Yamoto”: a boat built by Mitsubishi powered solely by MHD propulsion

2 USA 250MW Engineering Test Facility(ETF) 1985

3 USA Commercial Demonstration Plant In progress

4 Tokyo Japan 20MW Demonstration Plant 2010

Table 2: Name of countries who have undertaken the development of MHD.

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6.1 SCOPE OF MHD

1) Ajith Krishnan R., and Jinshah B. S. (2013)- Magnetohydrodynamic Power

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2) E. Cosoroaba and B. Fahimi (2015)- Efficiency Oriented Design Guidelines for A