GB1024628A - Method and apparatus for generating electricity - Google Patents

Abstract

1,024,628. Generators operating by electromagnetic interaction with fluids. SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS Inc. Dec. 31, 1962, No. 49004/62. Heading H2A. In a magnetohydrodynamic generator a narrow band of ionized gas formed by an arc discharge between electrodes is forced along a duct and either induces a current in a coil wound around the duct or is reinforced by its interaction with a magnetic field, transverse to the duct, to generate a voltage between the electrodes. A.C. generator (Figs. 1 and 3).-Magnetic cores 10a, 10b, having pole legs 11, 12 respectively with coils 15, 16 wound around each leg and connected in known manner, are separated by duct 19 which comprises insulating walls 20-23. The walls 20, 22 support electrodes 24, 25 extending along the length of the duct and perpendicular to the spacing between the magnetic cores. At the upstream end of the duct a pair of arc striking electrodes 26, 27 are mounted and connected to a D.C. source 28. In operation the arc is forced along the duct by gas from container 31 and its magnetic field induces a current in the windings 15, 16. At the downstream end of the duct the arc is " blown out " and immediately re-formed at the upstream end between the striking electrodes. The arc itself is made to completely fill the cross-section of the duct and is shown at 29a. D.C. generator (Fig. 5).-In this modification the duct is located between poles 40, 41 of an electromagnet having an energizing winding 43 and the arc is initiated between electrodes 26, 27 by a current pulse. As the arc is forced along the duct it interacts with the magnetic field to produce a current between the electrodes which both sustains the arc and supplies a load circuit connected between the electrodes. When the arc is blown out the output voltage falls and operates a trigger circuit which supplies the current pulse necessary to re-strike the arc at the upstream end of the duct. In both generators the cool working fluid may be re-cycled and the hot ionized gas deflected through port 35, by a magnetic field, for use in a normal thermal generator plant. The gas may be seeded to enhance ionization or an alkali metal gas may be used.