Direct energy conversion of plasma energy

Author

Mori, Ichiro ; Sumitomo, Kazuhiro

Author_Institution

Tech. Coll. of Tokushima Univ., Japan

Volume

16

Issue

6

fYear

1988

fDate

12/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

623

Lastpage

630

Abstract

An application of ambipolar potential in a magnetized plasma is proposed for direct energy conversion. Analyses of a model device for 20-MW-per-unit-length (without considering end loss) and 14-MW-per-unit-length (with the end loss) are shown. The plasma density profile, the potential distribution in the device, and the voltage-current characteristics are obtained on the basis of the Poisson continuity equation system. As an example, a theoretical energy loss by neutral particles, which should not affect the total efficiency much. Experiments with a small thermal ionization-type device were performed wherein the relations of output voltage versus current and power versus impedance were acquired. the experimental results are compared with the theoretical and a qualitative agreement is obtained

Keywords

direct energy conversion; plasma density; plasma transport processes; Poisson continuity equation system; ambipolar potential; direct energy conversion; end loss; impedance; magnetized plasma; model device; neutral particles; output voltage; plasma density profile; plasma energy; potential distribution; power; thermal ionization-type device; voltage-current characteristics; Energy conversion; Energy loss; Impedance; Magnetic analysis; Plasma applications; Plasma density; Plasma devices; Plasma properties; Poisson equations; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.16550

Filename

16550