PROJECT NO.

1
MAGNETOHYDRO
DYNAMIC
GENERATORS
GROUP MEMEBERS

Avn Cdt Sgt Umer 066940

Avn Cdt Sohaib 066933
Nust Cdt Hassan 060901
CONTRIBUTIONS
SEQUENCE OF
PRESENTATION
HISTORY
THEORY OF MHD GENERATORS
INTRODUCTION TO MHD GENERATORS
TYPES OF MHD GENERATORS
DESIGN
SIZING
ONLINE MARKET RESEARCH(BOTH LOCAL AND
INTERNATIONAL)
PRICING.
SUITABLE APPLICATIONS BOTH IN AND OUT OF
AVIATION INDUSTRY.
FEASIBILTY REPORT
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN LIBRARY
HISTORY
It was Faraday who recognized in 1831 that
one could employ a fluid conductor as the
working substance in a power generator. Thus
giving the concept of MHD generator.
The first practical MHD power research was
funded in the 1938 in the U.S. in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania laboratories, headed by Bela
Karlovitz.
In the United States, operation of a 32 MW
alcohol-fueled generator with run times up to
three minutes was achieved in 1965
HISTORY
In 1966 IAEA (International Atomic Energy
Agency) started funding MHD projects as it
anticipated that nuclear reactors could use
MHDs exhaust to supply the high temperature
required for fission.
In the Soviet Union tests on a 75 MW (25 MW
from MHD and 50 MW from steam) pilot plant
burning natural gas began in 1971
In 1976 as it became clear that MHDs couldn’t
be used in Nuclear Reactor IAEA withdrew its
support. Resulting in a huge setback for MHD
research.
HISTORY
In 2004 a combined MHD and Steam plant was
established in Tennessee, USA which could
produce 300MW.
 PRINCIPLE OF ELECTRICITY
GENERATION
According to faraday’s law, when an
electrical conductor is moved so as to
cut lines of magnetic induction, the
charged particles in the conductor
experience a force in a direction
mutually perpendicular to the B field
and to the velocity of the conductor. The
negative charges tend to move in one
direction, and the positive charges in the
opposite direction. This induced electric
field, or motional emf, provides the
basis for converting mechanical energy
into electrical energy.
In commonly used
generators…………
In the case of hydroelectric generators, the energy required
to maintain the rotation of turbine is supplied by the
gravitational motion of river water.
While in Turbo generators, a high-speed flow of steam or
other gas moves the turbine. The heat source required to
produce the high-speed gas flow may be supplied by the
combustion of a fossil fuel or by a nuclear reactor (either
fission or possibly fusion).
However in an MHD
generator……..
We don’t have any moving
parts.
In this generator instead of a
moving metal conductor
(armature) we have a fast
flowing conducting fluid.
(mostly an ionized gas)
A current is induced in the
conducting fluid due to the
cutting of magnetic flux by
the fast flowing conducting
fluid.
The current then passes
through the electrodes in the
channel wall to an external
How gases are made
electrically conductive?
Raising the gas to a very
high temperature.

By adding a small amount Raising the gas to a very high

temperature
of easily ionized
substance. This process is
called seeding. (e.g.
iodine-125, potassium
ionization seed)

A seeder used to ionize gas.

Schematic Diagram of a
combined MHD and Steam
Explanation
First the air enters into a compressor from
where it enters the low temperature air heater.
Next the air after passing through the high
temperature heater enters the combustion
chamber where it is seeded so that it’ll ionize.
The ionized high speed gas then passes
through the MHD and a DC power is generated.
The high temperature gas exiting from the
MHD is fed into the Steam generator where it
drives the turbine to generate AC power.
TYPES OF MHDS
OTHER SHAPES OF MHD
GENERATOR
DESIGN
Important Design Characteristics:

The need to obtain sufficient electrical

conductivity.
The need to produce high magnetic field.
The need to obtain permanent duct walls.
The need to provide long lived electrode.
THE NEED TO OBTAIN
SUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL
The electrical
conductivity increases by
ionizing a low density
gas.
In order to increase the
electrical conductivity
above 10 mhos/m* we need
to increase the
temperature. This high
temperature is obtained
from the burning of fossil
fuel while the exit
temperature of the nuclear
*mhos is the unit of electrical conductance
plant gases isn’t sufficient.
now Siemens is used instead.
THE NEED TO OBTAIN
SUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL
It has been suggested that the use of certain
solid particles in the gas like carbon can
increase electrical conductivity as they emit
electrons.
THE NEED TO PRODUCE
HIGH MAGNETIC FIELD.
The large magnets required for the MHD
generator are the most expensive part of the
MHD generator.
Permanent magnets are generally not used as
they are weak and bulky.
Superconducting magnets are preferred as
they have high magnetic field strength of up to
6weber/m2 and current densities of up to 200
Mega amps/m2. e.g Niobium Zirconium.
In electromagnets the number of windings over
the magnetic material is increased to increase
the magnetic field.
THE NEED TO OBTAIN
PERMANENT DUCT WALLS
The high temperature ionized gas mixed with seeds
of alkali metal produce a very corrosive
environment.
Therefore such a material is required which can
withstand corrosion and remain an electric
insulator at these high temperatures. And is also a
thermal insulator.
MgO and Strontium zirconate, which are commonly
used as refractory materials could only run for 1
hour before being corroded.
New materials such as Yttrium and Zirconium
dioxide are now used which can stand upto a
THE NEED TO PROVIDE
LONG LIVED ELECTRODE
Electrodes serve as a contact with the working
fluid
As the ionized gas is at a very high
temperature it is necessary that the electrode
should be able to withstand this high
temperature.
A material should be selected which doesn’t
form a layer of oxide on the outer surface
which will reduce its conductivity.
Tungsten is commonly used.
 SIZING
MHDs vary in size with
the smallest generating
about 20W.
The largest built in
Tennessee, US uses a 40-
ton superconducting
magnet capable of
generating MHD
electricity of 250 MW
capacity followed by a
conventional 300 MW
steam turbine generator
powered by the exiting
hot gases.
PICTURES OF A JAPANESE
MHD CAPABLE OF
ONLINE MARKET
RESEARCH
INTERNATIONAL:
MHD Generators are still going through
research phase. Therefore, at present, there is
no demand for MHDs as governments and
industries prefer to install other types of
generators (e.g. diesel or gas ) as they are low
in cost and high in efficiency.
Moreover, no company is directly associated
with production of MHD generators and most of
the research and development is made by
University professors and students.
ONLINE MARKET
RESEARCH
Universities that have significantly contributed
in the research of MHDs are:
 University of Tennessee Space Institute
 Princeton University

 University of Bologna, Italy

 University of Alabama

 The Institute of Electrical Engineering in the

Academica Sinica, Beijing

An MHD generator
made by students of
university of Bologna.

A student of UTSI working

on MHD generator.
ONLINE MARKET
RESEARCH
LOCAL:
Locally no major research on MHDs is in
progress in Pakistan.
Although students of some local universities
like COMSAT and University of Peshawar have
done some research on MHDs their work is
merely theoretical and no practical MHD
generator has been made in Pakistan to date.
PRICING
As MHD generator is still under
experimentation therefore no data regarding its
cost was available.
Experimental costs usually exceed the
production cost and therefore these costs
haven’t been quoted.
APPLICATIONS
BOTH IN AND OUT OF AVIATION
INDUSTRY
 The basic mechanism behind aircraft
propulsion is the emission of high
velocity gas from the aircraft nozzle.
which produces the thrust.
 According to new research a
supersonic aircraft can use a MHD
generator and ramjet engine
configuration connected in series to
produce high velocity exhaust.
 The supersonic MHD generator and
ramjet engine configuration increase
the power output and improve the
operating efficiency of the electrical
generating system.
A diffuser system is also proposed which is in fluid
communication with the supersonic MHD generator
and the ramjet engine for collecting bypass plasma
gas to be used for heating a second radiant boiler
adapted for powering a steam turbine generator.
However, the main obstacle in the use of MHDs is
the requirement of huge magnets which would
considerably increase the weight of the aircraft
which is undesirable.
At the other hand, electromagnets can’t be used as
the power required to produce such a large amount
of electricity can’t be generated on flight.
Future prospects
In submarines, low speed
MHD generators using
liquid metals would be
nearly silent, eliminating a
source of tell-tale
mechanism noise.
“Yomoto”: a boat built by
Mitsubishi powered solely by
MHD propulsion

YOMATO Can travel at up to 15

km/hr
USE IN SPACE INDUSTRY
In spacecraft and unattended
locations, low-speed metallic MHD
generators have been proposed as
highly reliable generators, linked
to solar or nuclear heat sources.
Studies are being conducted on an
innovative space power system
that combines a uranium
tetrafluoride (UF4) ultrahigh-
temperature vapor core reactor
(UTVR) and a disk
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)
generator to generate power
(hundreds of MWe power level for
a few thousand seconds which can
USE IN SPACE INDUSTRY
This allows for operation on a direct, closed-
Rankine-type cycle and leads to space power
systems with high efficiency (≈20%) and
small radiator size.
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
BENEFITS:
MHD generators can operate at high
temperatures without moving parts. Thus
reducing loss in power due to friction.
MHD exhaust of a plasma MHD generator is a
flame, still able to heat the boilers of a steam
power plant.
Reduction in fuel cost.
Conservation of natural resources.
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
COST:
MHD generators have not been employed for
large scale mass energy conversion because
other techniques with comparable efficiency
have a lower investment and operating cost.
A certain amount of electricity is required to
maintain sustained magnetic field over 1 T.
which increases the cost.
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
COSTS:
Because of the high temperatures, the walls of the
channel must be constructed from an exceedingly
heat-resistant substance such as yttrium* oxide or
zirconium* dioxide to retard oxidation. These
materials are extremely expensive.
Similarly, the electrodes must be both conductive
and heat-resistant at high temperatures, making
tungsten* a common choice rather than copper
which is much cheaper.

* Yttrium $4000/kg. Zirconium $150/kg , Chromium carbide (Cr3C2 ) $90/kg Tungsten $25 / kg Copper $2.93 / kg .
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
However…….
The exhaust of an MHD generator is almost as
hot as the flame of a conventional steam boiler.
By routing its exhaust gases into a boiler to
make steam, MHD and a steam Rankine cycle
(combined cycle) can produce electricity with
an estimated efficiency of up to 60%
experimental value), compared to the 40
percent of a typical coal plant.
Optimum performance of
MHD
Studies show that the generator with
contoured disk walls achieves higher
performance than the generator with straight
disk walls because of improved flow behavior.
The optimal magnetic field on duct-shaped
MHD generators is a sort of saddle shape.
An optimum theoretical temperature between
2500 to 4000K is suggested for higher
efficiency.
A disk type MHD generator is known to have a
higher efficiency than other types.
CONCLUSION
Although MHD generator are environment
friendly However, their low efficiency
combined with high cost and low power
capacity make it an unfavorable option
compared to other methods of power
production.
In the coming years, as long as fossil fuels, are
available MHD Generators are not feasible for
power production.
MHD Projects need desperate funding if they
have to compete with other renewable source
power generators like wind, solar or
REFERENCES
[Link]/news/News_2005
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]/yamasaki
[Link]
[Link]
 [Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]/papers
BOOKS AVAILABLE IN
LIBRARRY
Magneto hydrodynamics by T G Cowlings
MHD Generation of electric power by R.A.
Coombe
Magneto hydrodynamics by P.C. Kendall
Engineering aspects of engineering by Gordon
& Breach.
Magneto hydrodynamics; historical evolution
and trends. S. Molokov
Engineering thermodynamics by J.B Jones
FOLLOWING PATENTED
ARTICLES ARE AVAILABLE
MHD Technology for Scramjet Control
The Constant-Mach-number MHD generator
On a Perspective of MHD Technology in Aerospace
Applications
Parametric study of potential early commercial
mhd power plants
Investigation of a Mach 3 Cold Air MHD Channel
Solar-powered liquid-metal MHD power systems
Magneto hydrodynamic Power Extraction from Cold
Hypersonic Air with External Ionizers