This document discusses magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation. MHD power generation directly converts heat energy to electrical energy without mechanical energy conversion using electrically conducting fluids like plasma or molten metals in a magnetic field. It was first proposed in 1832 by Michael Faraday and the first MHD generator was built in 1959 in the USA. There are two types of MHD systems - open cycle systems which discharge working fluids after generation and closed cycle systems which recycle working fluids like helium or argon seeded with cesium. MHD power generation has advantages like no moving parts and high efficiency but also challenges like requiring very high temperatures and large expensive magnets.

1. Presented By
D.HEMANTH KUMAR
1
www.SeminarsTopics.com

2. INTRODUCTION
 MHD power generation is a direct energy
conversion,which converts the Heat Energy
directly into Electrical Energy without any
intermediate Mechanical Energy conversion.
 Magneto Hydro Dynamic (MHD) or Hydro
dynamics is the Academic Discipline which
studies the Dynamics of Electrically
conducting fluids Ex: Plasma, Liquid metals
and Salt water
 The Word MHD derived from Magneto-
Magnetic Field,Hydro-Liquid and
Dynamics-Movement
 The field of MHD was Proposed by Hannes
Alfven for which he received the noble prize
in Physics in 1970
2

3. HISTORY OF MHD
It was introduced by Michael
Faraday in 1832 in his
Bakerian Lecture.
He carried out a experiment at
Waterloo Bridge in UK for
measuring the current, from
the flow of river Thames in
Earth’s Magnetic Field.
Over the years then the first
MHD-Generator was built in
1959 in USA
The first MHD power Plant
was constructed in USSR in
1970
3

4. PRINCIPLE
Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction :
When an electric conductor moves across a magnetic field,
an emf is induced in it, which produces an electric current .
4

5. Lorentz Force
Lorentz Force on the
charged particle (vector),
F = q(v × B)
where,
 v = velocity of the particle
(vector)
 q= charge of the particle
(scalar)
 B = magnetic field (vector)
5

6. METHODS OF MHD POWER
GENERATION
Open Cycle MHD System
Closed Cycle MHD System
1.Seeded Inert Gas System
2.Liquid Metal System
6

7. OPEN CYCLE MHD SYSTEM
7

8. CLOSED CYCLE MHD SYSTEM
8

9. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPEN AND
CLOSED CYCLES
OPEN CYCLE SYSTEM CLOSED CYCLE SYSTEM
Working fluid after
generating electrical energy
is discharged to the
atmosphere through a stack.
Operation of MHD
generator is done directly on
combustion products
Temperature required is
about 2300˚C to 2700˚C
More developed
Working fluid is recycled to
the heat sources and thus is
used again
Helium or Argon(with
Cesium Seeding) is used as
the working fluid.
Temperature required is
about 530˚C
Less developed
9

10. ADVANTAGES
No moving parts, so no mechanical losses.
Overall Efficiency is about 50%.
Large Amount of pollution free power is generated.
Size of Plant is small compared to other Fossil fuel plants.
Less overall generation cost.
10

11. DISADVANTAGES
Very Large Magnets are needed, this is the major expense.
High Friction and Heat Transfer losses.
High operating temperature.
Even though overall generation cost is less ,DC to AC
Converters increase the cost of plant.
11

12. APPLICATIONS
Hypersonic Wind tunnel Experiments
Defense application.
12

13. CONCLUSION
MHD Power Generation is a Direct Energy conversion system,
which converts Heat Energy into Electrical Energy .By this
generation technique large power is generated without
pollution.
13

14. 14