Effect of Magnetic Flux Density on Control Range of Output Power of a Commercial-Scale, Nonequilibrium MHD Generator

Abstract

Time-dependent, two-dimensional (r-z) magnetohydrodynamic numerical analysis is conducted for a commercial-scale, nonequilibrium MHD generator with a thermal input of 1000 MW to clarify the effect of externally applied magnetic flux density on the control range of output power by adjusting seed fraction and load voltage. The output power is controlled more widely by lowering magnetic flux density, although the isentropic efficiency is forced to be lower. This is because both the operation ranges of seed fraction and load voltage yielding a stable plasma become wide for low magnetic flux density.