MHD GENERATORS

·       Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation is an advanced technology for generating electrical power from fossil fuels by passing an electrical conducting fluid through a magnetic field without rotating machinery or moving mechanical parts.

·       In principle, any electrical conducting fluid can be used as the working fluid, and power generation has been demonstrated with a number of such fluids, varying from liquid metals to hot ionized gases.

·       The absence of moving machinery allows the MHD generator to operate at much higher temperatures than other power generation systems and, therefore, higher efficiencies can be reached.

·       A key component of the MHD generator is the superconducting magnet, which produces the magnetic field necessary for the energy conversion process.

·       A MHD/steam plan can achieve efficiencies of up to 60% with less environmental impact than from any other direct coal-burning technology. Retreofitting and/or repowering of existing thermal power plants is possible with a significant increase of the efficiency of the plant.

·       Efficiencies greater than 65 – 70 % can be reached if a triple cycle, including an MHD generator, a gas turbine and a steam turbine, is utilized.