MHD generator with uniform voltage distribution
AssigneeAvco Everett Research Laboratory, Inc.
InventorsGeorge R. Enos, Richard J. Rosa, Stanley W. Petty
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Abstract
An MHD generator includes external electrical connectors between adjacent discrete electrodes in one wall of the generator duct, which has opposed electrodes which may lie in a plane at an angle to the direction of gas flow. The electrical connection includes a circuit which adjusts the voltage between the connected adjacent electrodes to insure that the Hall voltage differential between the discrete electrodes which are adjacent to each other in the same wall of the duct does not exceed the damaging breakdown voltage. Indicator means when coupled to the circuits in accordance with the invention comprise diagnostic means which provide a graphic representation of voltage distribution along the length of the generator duct.
Claims4
An MHD generator for generating electricity from a moving stream of electrically conductive gas comprising:
- a duct for conveying the gas stream, the duct having an inlet and an outlet,
- means for establishing a magnetic field through said duct normal to the direction of gas flow,
- terminal electrodes positioned along the duct at the inlet and outlet,
- a plurality of discrete electrodes positioned at intervals along opposing walls of the duct,
- certain of said discrete electrodes being directly opposed and lying in planes normal to the direction of gas flow, said generator having a rated Hall voltage between adjacent electrodes,
- a plurality of first coupling means each coupling together different opposed discrete electrodes which lie in planes at an angle .theta. to the direction of gas flow,
- second coupling means including a power transistor connected between and coupling together different adjacent electrodes for producing a voltage drop between said connected adjacent discrete electrodes sufficient to prevent damaging electrical differentials between said adjacent discrete electrodes, and
- a control circuit for controlling the current flow through said transistor in response to the voltage across said transistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.