Three-dimensional analysis of MHD generators: Development of electrical solution

A model for calculating three-dimensional current and electric field distributions in MHD generator channels is formulated and numerically solved. The chief advantage of this model is that its solution can be implemented on the digital computer in less than one CPU second and thus the model can be conveniently coupled to a full three-dimensional gas dynamic analysis. The model is equally valid for Faraday, diagonal insulating-side-wall, and diagonal conducting-sidewall channels. Accuracy of the model is calibrated by comparing its predictions with the results of three-dimensional finite segmentation analyses. The model is found to perform best for channels with low wall temperatures and low electrode pitch-to-height ratios, and when the boundary layers are thick.