Numerical simulation of blow‐down closed‐cycle disk MHD generator

Numerical simulations of the closed‐cycle disk MHD generation experiment with Tokyo Institute of Technology's Fuji‐1 blow‐down facility are performed. In the calculations, the r–z two‐dimensional time‐dependent simulation code developed by the authors that can take the effect of water contamination into account is used, and the experimental conditions of Run A4109 operated by Disk‐F4 generator are selected as the numerical conditions. When the water contamination is the lowest level realized in the experiments, the simulation results coincide with the experimental results reasonably well, though there exist some discrepancies caused by inaccuracy of used basic plasma parameters, limitations of the two‐dimensional approximation, and so on. The voltage–current curve is almost linear, indicating that the MHD interaction is relatively weak and the flow field is mainly determined by the back‐pressure. The increase of the water contamination level results in decreased seed ionization rate at the generator channel inlet, leading to the steep deterioration of the generator performance. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 148(2): 46–54, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10335     

Performance Comparison of Scramjet‐Driven Experimental DCW‐MHD Generators with Different Cross‐Sections

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of the shape of the cross‐section of a scramjet engine‐driven experimental diagonal conducting wall (DCW)‐MHD generator on generator performance by three‐dimensional numerical analyses. We have designed MHD generators with symmetric square and circular cross‐sections, based on an experimental MHD generator with an asymmetric square cross‐section. Under the optimum load conditions, the electric power output reaches 26.6 kW for the asymmetric square cross‐section, 24.6 kW for the symmetric square cross‐section, and 22.4 kW for the circular cross‐section. The highest output is obtained for the experimental generator with the asymmetric square cross‐section. The difference in the electric power output is induced by the difference of flow velocity and boundary layer thickness. For the generator with the asymmetric square cross‐section, the average flow velocity is highest and the boundary layer is thinnest. The compression wave is generated with dependence on the channel shape. The difference in the flow velocity and boundary layer thickness is induced by the superposition of the compression wave. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 187(2): 9–16, 2014; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22403     

Stabilization analysis of commercial‐scale subsonic diagonal‐type MHD generator considering loading conditions

In previous research on subsonic diagonal‐type MHD generators, the authors have proposed a conceptual design with relatively low Mach number in order to stabilize the MHD generator of commercial scale and have shown that the MHD generator works stably under constant‐current loading condition. In the present paper, effects of loading conditions on stability of the MHD generator are examined. A channel‐length scale linear stability analysis and time‐dependent calculations are carried out, where both gasdynamical boundary conditions and loading condition are taken into account. These analyses show that the MHD generator behaves stably under various loading conditions such as constant‐voltage loading condition and ohmic loading condition. Then the stability of the MHD generator connected with an ac power system is also analyzed by time‐dependent calculations. The analysis shows that the MHD generator stably provides the rated power to the ac power line. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 128(4): 16–24, 1999     

Fault analysis of the interconnecting system between a commercial‐scale subsonic diagonal‐type MHD generator and an ac power system

Fault analyses are performed for the interconnecting system between a commercial‐scale subsonic diagonal‐type MHD generator and an ac power system through a line‐commutated inverter. The behavior of the interconnecting system is first examined for the case of single misfiring of one thyristor in the inverter. In this case, the load current increases because the inverter system is short‐circuited. Following the theory of inverter commutation, the load current decreases to the rated value and the MHD generator is restored to the rated condition. Next, the cases of a single‐line ground fault and of a three‐phase short circuit fault are investigated. The line voltage decreases and thus the load currents increase after the fault. This increase of load currents destroys the design‐point flow of the MHD generator. Phase‐control angle control of the inverters is required in order to restore the rated operation of the MHD generator. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(1): 29–36, 2001     

Three‐dimensional numerical analysis of a liquid metal MHD generator

Three‐dimensional numerical analysis of a liquid metal MHD generator has been carried out. The three‐dimensional structures of the electromagnetic field and fluid flow in the MHD generator have been clarified, and the effect of the electrode width on the performance has also been examined, taking account of the current flow in the electrode. Structures of the electromagnetic field and fluid flow are complicated owing to the three‐dimensional current flow, induced magnetic field, and Lorentz force. The highest performance is found to be obtained when the width of the electrode is equal to that of the generator. The performance predicted from three‐dimensional analysis is somewhat lower than that from two‐dimensional analysis because of the larger input power. The increase in the input power is attributed to the increase in Lorentz force caused by less reduced magnetic flux density and to the additional friction loss on the insulator walls (x?y plane). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 160(3): 19–26, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www. interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20282     

Plasma behavior and characteristics of a pulsed‐laser‐driven MHD electrical power generation

The fundamental electrical power generation experiment of a pulsed‐laser‐driven magnet hydrodynamics generator with a divergent channel and segmented electrodes has been conducted with a rough estimate of gas heating efficiency of laser energy. The output energy is increased with the decrease in the initial filling gas pressure because of the increase in the gas velocity and the electrical conductivity with the gas temperature. The output power is surely improved in comparison with the previously examined generator with constant height channel and continuous electrode. About 70% of the incident laser energy is absorbed and less than 20% is transferred to the blast wave energy at low initial filling gas pressure in the present experimental setup.     

Numerical performance simulation of frozen helium plasma disk MHD generator

MHD electrical power generation with frozen helium plasma (FHP) is examined numerically. The FHP can be initiated by preionized helium without the alkali metal seed at the generator inlet. Since the three‐body recombination coefficient of helium ions is low at electron temperatures above 5000 K, the ionization degree can be kept almost constant in the entire region of the generator channel. The r?θ two‐dimensional numerical results show that the performance of the FHP MHD generator is comparable to that of the seeded plasma MHD generator, if the additional power consumed to preionization is ignored. In the FHP MHD generator, the ionization degree at the inlet should be controlled precisely, as well as the seed fraction in the seeded plasma MHD generator. Under an adequate inlet ionization degree for sustaining the FHP plasma, the plasma maintains the uniform structure. On the other hand, a slightly excess ionization degree causes a strong Lorentz force in the upstream region of the generator, deteriorating the generator performance. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(3): 26–33, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10030     

New power consolidation-inversion-control system for faraday MHD generator

The authors propose a new power consolidation-inversion-control system for the Faraday MHD generator using the voltage source PWM inverters. The dc output power for each electrodes pair of the MHD generator is at first inverted into three-phase ac power by a voltage source PWM inverter, and then the ac powers are consolidated by transformers. The proposed system does not need such expensive equipment as an ac filter or phase modifier and can independently and simultaneously control the active and reactive powers provided to the electric power system. Numerical simulations of the whole system, including the Faraday MHD generator, the proposed power consolidation-inversion-control system, and the electric power system, show that the proposed system can stably and steadily transmit and control the electric power from the MHD generator to the electric power system. It is also confirmed that the proposed system can independently and simultaneously control the active and reactive powers and can be used as a fast power controller.     

Performance analysis of self‐excited pulsed MHD power systems

Performance characteristics of self‐excited pulsed MHD power systems are investigated with one‐dimensional time‐dependent calculations using a gas–liquid two‐fluid model. First, the Russian pulsed MHD power system “Pamir‐3U” is analyzed. The result of numerical simulations of hot‐fire tests shows good agreement with the experimental data, confirming the validity of the mathematical model. Performance analysis of Pamir‐3U reveals that the power output is approximately constant with the variation of load resistance, while the ballast resistor consumes a large amount of electric power. It is also shown that the system has been optimally designed to supply a large load current. Next, a new system yielding larger power output is proposed and analyzed. The obtained characteristics show that the new system can provide the maximum power output of 25 MW, which is 10 MW larger than that of Pamir‐3U. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(3): 30–37, 2000     

Plasma Behavior in a High‐Temperature Noble Gas Plasma Disk‐Shaped MHD Power Generator

R‐θ two‐dimensional numerical simulations have been carried out to clarify the plasma behavior in a high‐temperature noble gas plasma disk‐shaped magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator. At low inlet total temperature and high load resistance, the plasma has spiral structure which is similar to the nonuniform structure under the weak noble gas ionization condition in a seed‐plasma MHD generator. As seen in a linear‐shaped Faraday‐type MHD generator, the plasma becomes stable with increase in the inlet total temperature because the coulomb collision of electrons becomes dominant. Even at low inlet total temperature, the ionization instability can be suppressed for low load resistance, because the relatively low electron temperature due to less Joule heating makes the ionization relaxation time longer than plasma residential time.     

Electron temperature measurement and performance of a nonequilibrium disk MHD generator

Electron temperatures of nonequilibrium cesium seeded argon plasmas in a disk MHD generator installed in a blow-down facility are measured spectroscopically, and the generator performance is discussed in relation to the electron temperature. The temperature is decreased from ∼9000 K to ∼3000 K when the seed fraction is increased from 1 × 10⁻⁴ to 3 × 10⁻⁴. For the seed fraction of about 2 × 10⁻⁴ corresponding to the maximum power output, the temperature is found to be 4000–5000 K and the temperature fluctuation becomes minimal. For the seed fraction around 2 × 10⁻⁴, the electrical conductivity evaluated from the temperature is almost independent of the temperature. These facts suggest that the plasma is almost in the full seed ionization regime. Partially ionized argon and cesium plasmas are dominant at seed fractions below 1.3 × 10⁻⁴ and over 2.3 × 10⁻⁴, respectively, which degrades generator performance. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 120(1): 16–22, 1997     

Performance and conceptual design of superconducting magnet for disk MHD generator

This paper describes superconducting magnets coupled with two kinds of disk-type MHD generators. One is coupled with a disk generator in the closed-cycle MHD experimental facility FUJI-1. The other is for a full-scale disk MHD generator. These are split-pair magnets. In the magnet for the FUJI-1 facility, a unique structure which supports the coils against the electromagnetic force has been fabricated and the magnet has been operating stably. During MHD power generation experiments, an induced voltage across the terminals of the coil was measured. A magnitude of the Faraday current in the generator was calculated from this induced voltage. A possible construction of magnetics for a full-scale disk MHD generator is indicated. It is suggested that a high performance of the generator (output power density of 0.3-1 GW/m³) can be obtained with high magnetic field up to 10 T.     

Power control of coupled nonequilibrium disk MHD generator and line-commutated inverter system

A new power control method is proposed which is suitable for the MHD power generation system which consists of nonequilibrium disk generator and line-commutated inverter. The thermal input of the generator is controlled by changing the inlet stagnation pressure, whereas the seed mass flow rate instead of the inlet stagnation pressure is utilized as a manipulated variable of power control system. It is possible that the proposed method can realize both high performance for part load operation and fast output power control of which the time constant is much shorter than the response time of thermal input. Numerical simulations are carried out for the MHD power generation system connected to infinite bus and then it is confirmed that the system is stable and shows excellent power control performance.     

Operation and control of coupled nonequilibrium disk MHD generator and inverter system under power line fault condition

Numerical simulations of detailed time‐dependent behavior are performed on a simulation model in which a coupled system of nonequilibrium disk MHD generator and line‐commutated inverter is connected to an infinite bus through the transmission line, showing that continuous operation of the system is usually possible even when a power line fault occurs near the system. Then, time‐dependent swing simulations are carried out on another simulation model in which the MHD/inverter system and a synchronous generator are connected in parallel to an infinite bus through the common transmission line, revealing that the rotor angle swing of the synchronous generator caused by the power line fault can be effectively suppressed by the fast output power control of the MHD/inverter system. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 127(3): 13–24, 1999     

Numerical Study on Periodic Structure Evolution of Output Power in MHD Generator by Using Pulse‐Assisted Ionization Discharge

A pulse‐assisted ionization discharge applied to a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator is proposed as a technique to increase an electrical conductivity of working fluid. In this study, a periodic structure of output power in the MHD generator by using pulse‐assisted ionization discharge was evaluated. As a result, the discharge electrode length and the velocity of working fluid affect the discharge current distribution. The periodic structure of output power was observed in the several conditions. When the velocity of working fluid is roughly same as the sound speed, the periodic structure of output power was not observed.     

Two‐dimensional numerical simulation on performance of liquid metal MHD generator

The performance of a liquid metal MHD generator is investigated with a two‐dimensional numerical simulation. The effects of the electrode length, the position of current lead connection, and the insertion of an insulator on the performance are examined taking account of the current flow in the electrode. There exists an optimal electrode length for a given distribution of applied magnetic flux density. For a short electrode, the efficiency decreases because the power output becomes small. For a long electrode, on the other hand, the efficiency also decreases owing to the leakage current from the upstream and downstream edges of the electrode. An optimal current lead position was revealed. This fact is ascribed to the distributions of induced magnetic field and the current flow in the electrode. It was found that insertion of the insulator is effective for improving the performance, by which the eddy current can be reduced. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 156(1): 25–32, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/ eej.20165     

Plasma behavior in a non‐equilibrium disk MHD generator with a spatially non‐uniform seed fraction

The influence of azimuthal non‐uniformity of the seed fraction on plasma structure and performance in a non‐equilibrium disk MHD generator is investigated with a two dimensional r–θ numerical simulation. It is found that a locally high seed fraction causes mainly non‐uniformity of gas‐dynamical properties, whereas a locally low seed fraction develops a non‐uniform plasma. Both locally high and low seed fractions reduce generator performance considerably. These results suggest a spatially uniform seed fraction should be required for high power generation. ©1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 126(4): 48–54, 1999     

Behavior of magneto‐acoustic waves in a nonequilibrium subsonic disk MHD generator

The behavior of magneto‐acoustic waves in a nonequilibrium subsonic disk MHD generator was examined. The solution of the sixth‐order dispersion relation obtained by linearizing the set of MHD equations suggested that a magneto‐acoustic wave which propagates at a velocity of u_r ? a(u_r: radial fluid velocity, a: sound velocity) should be damped in subsonic flow. From time‐dependent quasi‐one‐dimensional simulations, it was verified that the pressure disturbance in the subsonic generator was damped at approximately the same rate as the value predicted by the linear theory. From a simplified analytical model, the mechanism of magneto‐acoustic instability with fully ionized seed was discussed, and the damping criterion for the magneto‐acoustic wave was clarified. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 142(4): 20–26, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10108     

The effect of an externally applied radio‐frequency electromagnetic field on the performance of a disk MHD generator

The effects of an externally applied radio‐frequency (rf) electromagnetic field on the nonequilibrium performance of a disk MHD generator were examined experimentally. As a preliminary experiment, plasma production by the applied rf electromagnetic field was attempted in the disk generator (Disk‐PIA), in which rf induction coils were embedded in the one‐side disk wall, under the conditions of no seeding, no flow, and no magnetic field. From the results of the preliminary experiment, it was confirmed that the argon plasma (～110 Torr) was produced uniformly in the azimuthal direction by the rf electromagnetic field even in the presence of exposed anodes in the faced disk wall and metallic support at the disk center. In MHD power generation experiments with the Disk‐PIA installed in the shock‐tube facility, the increase in the electrical output and more indiscrete discharge attributed to the rf electromagnetic field were verified with good reproducibility for the first time. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(4): 46–53, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10009