The effect of variable plasma conductivity on MHD energy converter performance

THE CONCEPT OF a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy converter presents a means of converting some of the kinetic and thermal energy of a plasma directly into useful electrical work. The principle upon which its operation is based is that of passing a moving plasma through a transverse magnetic field, thereby inducing an electromotive force (emf) in the plasma. By completing the circuit through an external load, a current is then permitted to flow. The analysis of such a device is complicated by the fact that the working fluid is a compressible medium, subject not only to the laws of compressible fluid flow, but to the laws of electromagnetism as well.