Investigation of MHD power generation with supersonic non-equilibrium RF discharge

AbstractMagnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation with supersonic non-equilibrium plasma is demonstrated. Capacitively coupled radio frequency (RF) discharge (6MHz, maximum continual power output of 200W) was adopted to ionize the Mach number 3.5 (650m/s), 0.023kg/m3 airflow. In a MHD channel of 16mm×10mm×20mm, MHD open voltage of 10V is realized in the magnetic field of 1.25T, and power of 0.12mW is extracted steadily and continuously in the magnetic field of 1T. The reasons for limited power generation are proposed as: low conductivity of RF discharge; large touch resistance between MHD electrode and plasma; strong current eddies due to flow boundary layer. In addition, the cathode voltage fall is too low to have obvious effects on MHD power generation