A discussion on advanced methods of energy conversion- Magnetohydrodynamic power generation - Air heaters and seed recovery for m.h.d. plant

Abstract

The only economic way of producing sufficiently high flame temperature for m.h.d. power generation using fossil fuels is to burn them with air preheated to at least 1200° C. The factors affecting the design of suitable air heaters for the high temperature stage of this process will be discussed and the features of three general types will be described. One of these is a completely novel concept in which a circulating stream of molten material is used to transfer heat between hot combustion products and air. Experiments which are being carried out to provide design data for these three types will be described and cover the pumping and atomization of high temperature fluids; the testing of suitable refractory materials; aerodynamic model studies; the development of refractory seals. Seeding chemicals introduced to enhance gas conductivity pose special problems of corrosion and deposition in the air heaters and investigations into the interdependent processes of heat and mass transfer will be described. Since the seed cannot be allowed to escape from the system, studies of recovery processes will be referred to in the paper.