MHD Energy Conversion RevisitedApplication of a Caspar Milquetoast Plasma

The research presented here revisits an old idea, using MHD energy conversion as a topping cycle for commercial electricity power plants. If successful, such a topping cycle could increase the standard steam cycle plant efficiency from 35% to over 55%, an obviously worthwhile goal. We have been motivated to revisit MHD energy conversion, a program largely terminated in the 1990’s, for two important reasons. First, there have been new technological advances, the main one being the recent development of high field HTS magnets producing fields greater than 15 T as compared to the typical maximum 3-5 T fields available during the MHD era. Higher fields should improve MHD performance and reduce cost. Second, concerns about CO2 emissions and climate change are far more serious today than during the MHD era. Reducing emissions and costs produces important benefits to society. In terms of specifics, we have developed a new, self-consistent, quasi 1-D plus time analytic model for Faraday, Hall, and diagonal MHD generators in linear and cylindrical disk geometries. The models have been applied to open cycle MHD systems (fossil fuels) as well as closed cycle systems (fission, fusion, compact solar) to quantify the impact of high magnetic field on MHD generator performance. Detailed results will be presented at the meeting. For those unfamiliar with Caspar Milquetoast, he too will be described at the meeting, including the reason why he is important for MHD energy conversion.