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(1) Explain with neat sketch a closed cycle MHD System. (OCT/Nov.

2009,
May/June 2009, Nov/Dec. 2004, Nov/Dec. 2007)
(2) Discuss Principle of MHD System. (OCT/Nov. 2009, Nov/Dec. 2008,
Nov/Dec.2001, Nov/Dec. 2000)
(3) Explain Open Cycle MHD System.( Nov/Dec. 2008, May/June 2007, Nov/Dec.
2005, May/June 2008, Nov/Dec. 2005)
(4) Explain Seeding in MHD Power generation(Nov/Dec. 2004)
(5) Write merits and demerits of MHD Closed System. (Nov/Dec. 2003, Nov/Dec.
2002, Nov/Dec. 2001, Nov/Dec. 2000)

(1) Discuss Principle of MHD System. (OCT/Nov. 2009, Nov/Dec. 2008,


Nov/Dec.2001, Nov/Dec. 2000)
• Magneto hydrodynamic is a device which converts the heat energy of a fuel
directly into electrical energy without a conventional electric generator.
• Basic principle is a based on Faraday’s Law. It states that when a conductor is
moved in a magnetic field an emf is induced in the conductor. This conductor
may be solid, liquid or gas. The directions of the magnetic field, the direction
and the emf induced will be mutually perpendicular to each other. This is
given by right hand rule as shown in fig.1.

Fig.1. principle of Magneto-hydrodynamic

Working principle is explained below.


• An MHD generator is like a turbo generator is an energy conversion device. It
can be used with any high temperature heat source like chemical, nuclear,
solar energy etc. in an MHD generator system, hot gases acts as a conductor.
When hot gases are heated to sufficient temperature, one or more of the
valence electrons are expelled from their orbit which they are revolving. This
ionized the gas. These ions are the electrical conductors. The gases are moved
in a duct called MHD Duct at a very high velocity. The movement of these
ions in the MHD duct in which a strong magnetic field is applied leads to the
electromagnetic induction of an emf in a pair of electrons which are placed in
a direction perpendicular to both the direction of the flow of the ionized gases
and that of the magnetic field. The electrodes are connected to the external
circuit which drives the current in the external load.

(2) Explain Open Cycle MHD System.( Nov/Dec. 2008, May/June 2007, Nov/Dec.
2005, May/June 2008, Nov/Dec. 2005)

• Fig. shows the open cycle MHD power plant.


• This system uses an MHD generator in conjunction with conventional
steam power plant. The fuel used may be coal, oil or natural gas.
• The surrounding air is compressed to high pressure in the air compressor.
The gases are then heated in the low temperature and high temperature air
preheaters before supplying to the combustion chamber upto temperature
of about 1100 C.

Fig.2. Open Cycle MHD Power Plant

• The fuel is burnt in presence of hot air in the combustor. The hot gases so
produced are seeded with 1 % alkaline potassium to increase the electrical
conductivity of the gases. These hot gases expand in the nozzle to high velocity
and enter to MHD duct at about 2300 C to 2700 C temperature. Some part of the
internal energy of the gas or plasma is directly converted into DC power.
The DC –AC inverter converts the DC power into AC power.
• Hot gases leaving the MHD duct is used in high temperature air preheater
to heat the air. Then these gases are used in heat exchanger to generate
steam from feed water. The steam so generated is used in a conventional
steam power plant to generate power as shown in fig.2. the remainder of
heat of hot gases is utilized for heating the compressed air in low
temperature air preheater. Hot gases then pass through a seed recovery
unit or ESP (electrostatic Precipitator). The clean hot gases are either
exhausted to the surrounding through chimney as shown in fig or again
recycled by compressing again, it is decided by type of MHD Plant.

(3) Explain Closed Cycle MHD System.( Nov/Dec. 2008, May/June 2007,
Nov/Dec. 2005, May/June 2008, Nov/Dec. 2005)

Closed cycle MHD generators can either operate on seeded inert gas (helium or
argon) system or liquid metal system. These systems are discussed below:

Seeded inert gas MHD generator:

• Fig.3. shows the closed cycle scheme using helium or argon gas seeded
with Cesium MHD generator.
• Inert gas helium seeded with cesium is heated to a very high temperature
in a nuclear reactor. The hot helium gas is passed into nozzles to increase
its velocity before supplying to MHD duct to produce DC Power which is
converted into AC Power by inverter. The gas is passed through a heat
exchanger called steam generator to convert feed water into steam to be
used in the conventional steam power plant as shown in fig.

Fig.3. Closed cycle Seeded inert gas, MHD Generator


• The helium gas leaving the steam generator is cooled in the cooler and
after compressing in the compressor is supplied back to the nuclear
reactor.
• In the above system instead of using the conventional steam power plant
as bottoming unit, it can be also employ a gas turbine power plant. The
seeded inert gas MHD System is most promising amongst all system.

Liquid metal MHD System:

• A liquid metal MHD Sytem is as shown in fig.4.


• It is similar to inert gas system except that is used liquid metal (potassium)
instead of helium gas as the working fluid.

Fig.4. Liquid metal MHD System

• Liquid potassium is heated in the nuclear reactor is passed through the


nozzles to increase its velocity. Small amount of vapour formed during the
nozzle passage is separated in the separator and it is pumped back into the
reactor. High velocity liquid metal is passed through MHD duct to
produce DC Power.
• Comparatively lower temperature liquid potassium is then passed through
a heat exchanger before pumped to the reactor. It transfers heat to feed the
water which is converted into steam. This steam is used in a conventional
steam power plant.
(4) Write merits and demerits of MHD Closed System. (Nov/Dec. 2003,
Nov/Dec. 2002, Nov/Dec. 2001, Nov/Dec. 2000),May/June 2008, Nov/Dec.
2005)

Closed cycle MHD generators can either operate on seeded inert gas (helium or
argon) system or liquid metal system. These systems are discussed below:

Seeded inert gas MHD generator:

• Fig.3. shows the closed cycle scheme using helium or argon gas seeded
with Cesium MHD generator.
• Inert gas helium seeded with cesium is heated to a very high temperature
in a nuclear reactor. The hot helium gas is passed into nozzles to increase
its velocity before supplying to MHD duct to produce DC Power which is
converted into AC Power by inverter. The gas is passed through a heat
exchanger called steam generator to convert feed water into steam to be
used in the conventional steam power plant as shown in fig.

Fig.3. Closed cycle Seeded inert gas, MHD Generator

• The helium gas leaving the steam generator is cooled in the cooler and
after compressing in the compressor is supplied back to the nuclear
reactor.
• In the above system instead of using the conventional steam power plant
as bottoming unit, it can be also employ a gas turbine power plant. The
seeded inert gas MHD System is most promising amongst all system.

Liquid metal MHD System:


• A liquid metal MHD Sytem is as shown in fig.4.
• It is similar to inert gas system except that is used liquid metal (potassium)
instead of helium gas as the working fluid.

Fig.4. Liquid metal MHD System

• Liquid potassium is heated in the nuclear reactor is passed through the


nozzles to increase its velocity. Small amount of vapour formed during the
nozzle passage is separated in the separator and it is pumped back into the
reactor. High velocity liquid metal is passed through MHD duct to
produce DC Power.
• Comparatively lower temperature liquid potassium is then passed through
a heat exchanger before pumped to the reactor. It transfers heat to feed the
water which is converted into steam. This steam is used in a conventional
steam power plant.

There are following advantages and limitations of liquid metal system:

• This system can use energy as high temperature is not the requirement of this
system as in case of the plasma converter.
• It can be easily provide ac power supply directly, which it is almost impossible to
do so in a plasma system.
• The size of the system including that of the magnets, while it is almost
comparatively smaller. This is because of high power density.
• The metallic vapors are poor electrical conductors.
• The overall conversion efficiencies obtainable with liquid metal system are quite
below to that of the plasma System.

(5) Explain Seeding in MHD Power generation(Nov/Dec. 2004)

• One way of increasing the conductivity o gas, without the need of exceedingly
high temperatures, is to introduce into gas a material whose ionization potential
lower than that of the gas atoms themselves. This means that in addition; or
seeding agent, will ionize more readily than the gas itself, and will thus increase
the electrical conductivity.

• Main materials are alkali metals like cesium, potassium etc. the addition of the
seeding material allows the attainment of suitable conductivities at very much
lower temperatures. It is seen that conductivities between 10 and 100 mhos/m can
be achieved in the temperature in the range of 2000 – 2400 C according to the
percentage of seed material added and the gas pressure. These temperatures are
still very high, but materials technology has now advanced sufficiently to make
working at such temperatures at least feasible.

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