A cylindrical coaxial MHD generator

A novel channel configuration involving a cylindrical coaxial geometry is proposed for MHD power generation. The generator channel consists of two coaxial cylinders with a smooth annular space between them, through which pressure driven ionized gas flows axially. Magnetic poles and electrodes separated by insulators are embedded in both the inner and outer cylinders. Considering the electrode width θeand the radii of the two coaxial cylinders (r0and ri) to be variables, a rigorous computer analysis of the device is carried out for a one dimensional flow. In the efficiency computations, losses such as heat transfer, viscous friction, plasma resistivity, etc. are taken into account.