Application: The Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) DC Generator One method of generating electricity is the magnetohydrodynamic
method. The principle is that of a moving bar in a magnetic field, not unlike that used in Example 10.1.
However, instead of the moving bar, a conducting fluid moves between two conducting electrodes, as shown in Figure 10.31.
Two magnets generate a very high magnetic field in a channel between them, called a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)
channel. Two conducting electrodes are placed at right angles to the field, insulated from the magnets and each other.
A conducting fluid is now forced through the channel. The magnetic field and velocity product v B are as shown in the
figure which indicates that the left plate becomes negative whereas the right plate is positive. The conducting fluid can be any
fluid. For example, we may pump seawater through the channel. Most experimental generators use highly ionized exhaust
gases from the burning of fuels. A very simple MHD generator is made of a channel as above, connected to the exhaust of a
jet engine. To increase conductivity of the gases, these are seeded with conducting ions such as alkali metal vapors. In coalfired
MHD generators, potassium carbonate is used as seed to increase conductivity. The most attractive feature of these
generators is the fact that they are stationary and produce DC directly. Most experimental MHD generators have low
efficiency (below 15 %), but because the system can be fully contained and operating in closed circuits, it has considerable
promise, especially for solar power generation. In spite of its simplicity, the engineering challenges of MHD are quite
difficult to handle. One is the need for very large magnetic fields which can only be obtained at superconducting
temperatures. The other is the very high speeds and pressures, as well as temperatures in the channel. See Problem 10.25
for a sample calculation.
10.10 Experiments
Experiment 1 (The Electromagnetic Brake. Demonstrates: Induced Currents Due to Motion, Electromotive Force,
Lenz’s Law, Faraday’s Law of Induction). The principle of the electromagnetic brake can be demonstrated with a strong
magnet and a thick conducting plate. A suitable magnet is a magnet with a small gap between its poles. Two large
loudspeaker magnets placed so that the opposite poles are located on two sides of the gap can be used. Figures 10.32a
and 10.32b show two possible configurations.
The conducting plate can be a simple aluminum plate. It should be at least 5 mm thick (the thicker the better) and 200 mm
wide. A hole is drilled in the plate so that it can be suspended freely. A pencil may be passed through the hole to create a pivot.
Lift the plate and allow it to swing through the gap between the twomagnets. Notice the retarding effect of the magnet. If the
magnet is strong, and the plate thick, the plate should come to an almost complete stop within the gap.Otherwise, itwill oscillate
somewhat and then stop. An alternative is to simply drop the aluminumplate between the poles and observe itsmotion. The same