Electrode Effects and Gas Dynamic Characteristics of a Large, Non-Equilibrium MHD Generator with Cesium Seeded, Noble Gases

摘要

An experimental study was performed to determine the factors limiting the power output of a linear, supersonic Faraday generator, having electrodes suspended in the gas flow. The test gases were cesium seeded neon or argon at 2000 to 4000 degrees K stagnation temperatures and 5 to 11 MW thermal power levels. It was observed that the electrode current varies directly with the cesium concentration for electrode current densities of the order of tens of amp/sq cm. The electrode current was nearly independent of electrode temperature and surface area. It was concluded that the electrode conduction was due to the cesium ion flux at the cathode. The gas dynamic characteristics of the generator as deduced from pressure and Mach number measurements were in fairly good agreement with the theory based on the one dimensional gas conservation equations. (Author)