34th AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Conference AIAA 2003-4285

23-26 June 2003, Orlando, Florida

34th AIAA Plasmadynamics and Laser Conference AIAA-2003-4285

Orlando, Florida, June 23-26, 2003

Experimental Demonstration of Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic (MHD)

Acceleration
David W. Bogdanoff∗
ELORET Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA 94087

and

Unmeel B. Mehtag
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035

Abstract
Magneto-hydro-dynamic (MHD) acceleration is a critical technology necessary in order to
develop MHD energy bypass scramjet engines for space launch and cruise vehicles, MHD-augmented
chemical rocket engines, MHD-facilitated nuclear propulsion, and high-enthalpy ground test
facilities. Herein, the objective is to design, build, and demonstrate an MHD accelerator for
developing the MHD-accelerator technology. A new facility is described. The test techniques
involved are discussed. A summary of the initial MHD-acceleration results is presented. With a
mean magnetic field of 0.92 Tesla, a maximum acceleration of ~40% was achieved. Increasing the
magnetic field to 3 Tesla should allow accelerations of ~120% to be achieved.

I. Introduction propulsion, chemical and nuclear space propulsion,

It is well known that an ionized gas flow can be
decelerated or accelerated by the application of a
magnetic field and an electric current, thereby
generating electrical power or converting electrical
power into kinetic energy of the gas flow. In 1957 at
the Aerodynamics Session, National Summer Meeting,
International Aeronautical Sciences (IAS), Resler, Jr.,
and Sears presented the prospects for magneto-
aerodynamics.1 Magneto-Hydro-Dynamics (MHD)
has the potential for improving performance and
extending operational range of systems and for
enabling missions. Potential applications are
hypersonic cruise, advanced Earth-to-orbit
This material is a work of the U.S. Government
and is not subject to the copyright protection in the
United States.
*
Senior Research Scientist; Associate Fellow, AIAA;
mailing address: Mail Stop 230-2, NASA Ames Research
Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035.
g
Senior Staff Scientist; Associate Fellow, AIAA;
mailing address: Mail Stop 229-3, Space Technology
Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
94035; e-mail: Unmeel.B.Mehta@nasa.gov.
regenerative aerobraking, onboard flow control
systems, test facilities, launch assist, and power
generation. For example, MHD acceleration may be
used to increase the specific impulse of hypersonic
scramjet engines for space launch and cruise
vehicles2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and to increase the enthalpy of high
enthalpy wind tunnels10 such as arc jets. With these
points in mind, it was decided to build a new MHD
accelerator for the NASA Ames electric arc shock
tube (EAST). The objective of this paper is to
present the accomplishments to date that address the
technological issues of an MHD accelerator. The
specific motivation to develop a MHD test facility
and the specific objectives to address these issues are
listed below.
There have been many experiments in which
electrical power generation has successfully been
achieved by MHD means. However, relatively few
experiments have been made to date for the reverse
case of achieving gas acceleration by the use of
MHD.5 A number of these investigations were carried
out in the 1960s and 1970s. These investigations
studied augmentation of enthalpy for wind tunnel
applications. Some of the studies involved nitrogen
or air flows with the addition of an alkali seed
material such as potassium (K) or cesium (Cs) to
increase the conductivity.

This material is declared a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.