US 3,940,640 AGranted

MHD generator with uniform current distribution

AssigneeAvco Everett Research Laboratory, Inc.

InventorsStanley W. Petty, Richard J. Rosa, George R. Enos

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Abstract

An MHD generator includes external electrical connectors between pairs of the discrete electrodes in opposite walls of the generator duct, which may lie in a plane at an angle to the direction of gas flow. The electrical connection includes a passive or an active circuit which controls current flow between the connected electrodes to insure that uniform current flow along the length of the duct and that excessive current flow through such discrete electrodes in opposite walls of the duct do not exceed a damaging limit which may otherwise occur. Indicator means when coupled to the circuits in accordance with the invention comprise diagnostic means which provide a graphic representation of current distribution along the length of the generator duct.

Claims8

Dependent claims

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 coupling means each coupling together different opposed discrete electrodes which lie in planes at an angle .theta. to the direction of gas flow, said coupling means including a power transistor and current sensor in series between the opposing electrodes in a plane at said angle .theta.,
said coupling means producing a voltage drop between said connected discrete electrodes in the plane at angle .theta. sufficient to prevent current flow in said opposed electrodes from exceeding a damaging limit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.