RECIPROCATING LIQUID METAL MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC GENERATOR

摘要

A magnetohydrodynamic generator comprising a pair of primary chambers (1a and 1d) containing a quantity of conducting fluid comprising a liquid metal and heated by a heat source, the primary chambers (1a and 1d) are interconnected at their lower ends by a channel incorporating a magnetohydrodynamic cell, each primary chamber (1a and 1d) being connected to a separate source (42a and 42d) of gaseous working fluid through heat regenerator (31a and 31d), whereby said working fluid is injected into the conducting fluid at an intermediate position spaced from the lower end and below the level of the conducting fluid, said injection being commenced when the level of conducting fluid in the primary chamber (1a and 1d) approaches its maximum and during the descent of that level and said working fluid is exhausted from the primary chamber (1a and 1d) from above the level of the conducting fluid, means being provided to cool and compress the exhausted working fluid for subsequent injection into the primary chamber and said heat regenerator (31a and 31d) extracts heat from said exhausted working fluid and heats said working fluid prior to its injection into the primary chamber (1a and 1d).