Stability analysis of MHD disk generators designed for a coal-fired power system with CO2 recovery

Design and stability analyses of MHD disk-type generators are carried out, which are applied for coal-fired electrical power generation system with CO2 recovery. Channels designed with subsonic flow show rather poor performance compared with supersonic flow channels. Inflow channels show better performance than outflow channels. The inflow channel gives enthalpy extraction ratios of 20.21% and 21.12% for thermal inputs of 1100 MW and 2000 MW, respectively, while the outflow channel operated with supersonic flow yields enthalpy extraction ratios of 17.92% and 18.12% when the magnetic flux density is 8 T. The open-cycle disk channels tend to become unstable at the exit region. It seems possible to stabilize the disk channels when operated with 8 T but seems difficult to stabilize them when operated with 10 T. (C) 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc.