Some phenomena apt to be of importance in a magnetohydrodynamic power generator are discussed. Particular attention is given to the effects of seeding on gas conductivity and to the Hall effect as it appears in nonuniform gases of finite extent. An experimental 10-kw magnetohydrodynamic generator is described. An arc wind tunnel or ``plasma jet'' is used as a convenient laboratory ``furnace'' to heat the working fluid. The generator's performance, including some observed Hall effects, is presented and discussed.
Under conditions that result in strong Hall or ion-slip effects, a uniform and a nonuniform gas can behave much differently as conductors of electricity. An Ohm's law for a nonuniform gas is derived. It is used to study the performance of normal-current and Hall-current magnetohydrodynamic devices and also the possibility for obtaining significant electron heating or ``extrathermal'' ionization.
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