Unit-3 MHD Part-1
Unit-3 MHD Part-1
Unit-3 MHD Part-1
• MHD: Magneto Hydro Dynamics is concerned with the flow of a conducting fluid in the presence
• An MHD generator is a device for converting heat energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy
• An MHD converter system is a heat engine in which heat taken up at a higher temperature is partly
converted into useful work and the remainder is rejected at a temperature. Like all heat engines, the
thermal efficiency of an MHD converter is increased by supplying the heat at the highest practical
• When an electric conductor moves across a magnetic field, a voltage is induced in it which
produces an electric current provided the circuit is closed.
• This is the principle of the conventional generator where the conductors consist of copper strips.
• In MHD generator, the solid conductors are replaced by a gaseous conductor which is an ionized
gas.
• If this ionized gas is passed at a high velocity through a powerful magnetic field, a current is
generated. This current can be extracted by placing electrodes in suitable positions around the
stream of ionized gases.
Principle of MHD Power Generation (contd.)
Principle of MHD Generation & conversion. [Ref: “Non-conventional energy sources,” G.D. Rai, Khanna Publishers, 5th
Edition, 2005.
Principle of MHD Power Generation (contd.)
𝐸𝑖𝑛𝑑 = 𝑢 × 𝐵
Ԧ
𝐽𝑖𝑛𝑑 = 𝜎𝐸𝑖𝑛𝑑
Ԧ
𝐽𝑖𝑛𝑑= induced current density
𝜎= electrical conductivity
MHD Generator
MHD Generator [Ref: “Non-conventional energy sources,” G.D. Rai, Khanna Publishers, 5th Edition, 2005.
MHD Generator (contd.)
• The conducting flow fluid is forced between the plates with a kinetic energy and pressure
differential sufficient to over come the magnetic induction force.
• The end view drawing illustrates the construction of the flow channel.
• Ionization is produced either by thermal means I.e. by an elevated temperature or by seeding with
substance like cesium or potassium vapors which ionizes at relatively low temperatures.
• The atoms of seed element split off electrons. The presence of the negatively charged electrons
makes the gas an electrical conductor.
MHD Systems
Open Cycle MHD system [Ref: “Non-conventional energy sources,” G.D. Rai, Khanna Publishers, 5th Edition, 2005.
Open Cycle MHD system (contd.)
• The fuel used maybe oil through an oil tank or gasified coal through a coal gasification plant.
• The fuel (coal, oil or natural gas) is burnt in the combustor or combustion chamber.
• The hot gases from combustor is then seeded with a small amount of ionized alkali metal (cesium
• The seed material, generally potassium carbonate is injected into the combustion chamber, the
potassium is then ionized by the hot combustion gases at temperature of roughly 2300 °C to 2700
°C.
Open Cycle MHD system (contd.)
• To attain such high temperatures, the compressed air is used to burn the coal in the combustion
• The hot pressurized working fluid living in the combustor flows through a convergent divergent
nozzle.
• In passing through the nozzle, the random motion energy of the molecules in the hot gas is largely
• The MHD generator is a divergent channel made of a heat resistant alloy with external water
cooling.
• The hot gas expands through the rocket like generator surrounded by powerful magnet. During
motion of the gas the +ve and –ve ions move to the electrodes and constitute an electric current.
• The arrangement of the electrode connection is determined by the need to reduce the losses.
• By this effect, the magnetic field acts on the MHD-generated current and produces a voltage in