CLOSED-CYCLE MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC METHOD FOR CONVERTING HEAT ENERGY INTO ELECTRICITY Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: electrical energy generation; heat-to-power converting installations. SUBSTANCE: method includes acceleration of inert gas flow and generation of time-periodic electricity conducting layers in flow upstream of MHD generator channel inlet with aid of high- energy electron beam pulses and heavy-power electrical discharges, these layers being displaced by gas flow in transverse magnetic field. In the process electricity conducting layers are self-maintained in MHD generator channel due to flow energy and useful power generation. Ice-making ionization state is set up in electricity conducting plasma layers using for the purpose electron beams only for initial ionization while for final ionization use is made of heavy-current pulse discharge at characteristic discharge time of 2•10^-6 s. Heavy-current discharge uniformly raises electron concentration in pre-ionized electricity conducting layer, discharge voltage being chosen to ensure electron concentration of (0,8÷1,5)•10¹⁵ cm^-3 by moment of discharge current turn-off. EFFECT: improved conditions for maintaining ice-making ionization state in plasma at heterogeneous gas-plasma flow. 1 cl, 1 dwg