Working principal of MHD

 A Magneto Hydrodynamic Generator is a device which converts heat energy of a fuel

directly into electrical energy without a conventional electric generator. This system
eliminates all the intermediate linking conversion processes thereby improving the
efficiency. It can be used with any high-temperature heat source like nuclear, solar
energy, chemical etc.
 The working principle of MHD generator is based on Faraday’s Law. It states that
when a conductor is moved in a magnetic field an EMF is induced in the conductor. In
an MHD system, hot gases act as the conductor.

 When gases are heated to sufficient temperature by burning of fuel, one or more of
the valence electrons are displaced from their orbit in which they are spinning. Thus,
the neutral atoms are split into the positive and negative ion. These ions are the
electrical conductors.
• After that, ionized gases are moved in a duct known as the MHD duct at very high velocity. This movement of gas ions in
. the MHD duct in which strong magnetic field is applied leads to the electromagnetic induction and an EMF is induced in
the pair of electrodes. The electrodes are connected to the external circuit and they deliver current to the external load. The
three major components of an MHD generator are shown in Figure. These are :
• MHD duct
• magnetic field and
• electrodes.
• The directions of the magnetic field, the flow of gases and the electrodes are mutually perpendicular to each other.
.
.• Practically, ionization temperature of gases in pure form is very high. Handling of
these high temperatures is very difficult. To overcome this problem, the gas is
seeded with a small quantity of alkaline metals like sodium and potassium. This
drops the ionization temperature of gases considerably.

To increase the overall efficiency of the system MHD system is used in

conjunction with steam power plants. Initially, when temperatures of gases are
high, the energy of gases is used in the MHD system for direct conversion into
electricity.

After this, when the temperature of gases falls to a low value, the hot gases are
used for steam generation. This steam is used to generate electrical power in a
conventional steam power plant.
.• Fuels and Materials Used in MHD Plants
•
All conventional fuels like oil, coal, natural gas or any other fuel which can
produce high temperature can be used in MHD plants. It can also use nuclear
energy.

The material used in the construction of MHD plants must have temperature
resistance. Also, medium inside the MHD duct is very corrosive, therefore, highly
corrosion resistant materials are used in its construction. The insulating materials
used for duct walls are magnesium oxide, strontium zirconate. Electrodes are
made of tungsten of carbon.
.
.
• Open Cycle MHD Generator
•
. The block diagram of an open cycle MHD generator in conjunction with a conventional power plant is shown in
Figure. The step by step working of an open cycle MHD generator is as under:
.

To increase the velocity of hot gases, they are passed through a nozzle. These high
velocity and high temperature (about 2300oC to 2700oC) gases are fed to the MHD
duct. Here, some part of the internal energy of the gas (plasma) is directly converted
into DC power.
.• The surplus heat of the gas is used for heating the compressed air in the low-
temperature preheater.

Hot gases then pass through a seed recovering unit (electrostatic precipitator). This
unit removes seeded alkaline potassium from gases.

The clean hot gases are expelled to the atmosphere through the chimney. In some
systems, they can be recycled by compressing again.
Closed cycle MHD system
• A closed cycle MHD system can either operate on seeded inert gas (helium or argon) or liquid metal.

• Seeded Inert Gas Closed Cycle MHD System

.
• A closed cycle MHD system using helium or argon gas seeded with Cesium is shown in Figure. Step by step working of the
system is as under:

In this system, helium gas seeded with Cesium is heated to a very high temperature in a nuclear reactor.
The hot helium gas is passed through a nozzle to increase its velocity and then supplied to MHD duct to
produce DC power. Here, some part of the internal energy of the gas is directly converted into DC power.