Numerical prediction on performance of closed cycle disk MHD generator

Numerical calculations were made on nonequilibrium MHD flows in a disk MHD generator in a strong magnetic field. The main objectives of the present study are to develop a numerical simulator for the authors´ present closed-cycle disk MHD generator and to obtain knowledge for the design of a new disk MHD generator with high performance-especially high adiabatic efficiency. The basic equations were quasi one-dimensional equations which govern the behavior of nonequilibrium two-temperature plasma MHD flow. The TVD MacCormack method was first applied to the present system. Steady and stable solutions in the relatively wide range of operating conditions of the generator were obtained due to the high resolution and stable TVD scheme. The distribution of several physical quantities and the basic performances agreed well with the authors´ experimental data. A shock wave was induced in the nozzle where ionization proceeded rapidly. As a result, the stagnation pressure loss reached 45~55% at the inlet of the MHD channel