A

Seminar Report
ON

MHD Generator
Submitted
in partial fulfillment
for the award of the Degree of

Bachelor of Technology
In Department of Electrical Engineering

Submitted to:

Submitted by:

Mr. Rishi Sawroop Sharma

(HOD, Elect. Deptt.)

Pankush Soni
(1212733)

JMIT, RADAUR

CONTENTS
Abstract
Introduction
Principle of operation
Construction
Working
Types of MHD
Applications
Advantages
Disadvantages
Conclusion
Reference

ABSTRACT
Now a days oil supply is decreasing therefore energy sources are
becoming limited throughout the world. The technology of using
Bio fuel is an alternate solution of energy sources, but if we
think that all the worlds vehicles will be powered by bio fuels
then the amount of land used for farming must be doubled.
Abundant power is produced by Nuclear energy, but many fears
from the emission of catastrophes from such sources. In all this
Mhd generator is to be most beneficial source of energy. This
paper presents Mhd generator implementation as alternate
source of energy in urban cities. Hence we can say that it is a
revolutionary urban lighting concept and these technologies lead
to the development of high efficiency electrical energy.

INTRODUCTION
Eighty per cent of total electricity produced in the
world,is hydal,while remaining 20% is produced
from nuclear, thermal, solar, Geothermal energy
and from magneto hydro dynamics (MHD)
generators.
MHD power generation is a new system of
electrical power generation which is said to be of
high efficiency and low pollution. In advanced
countries MHD generators are widely used but in
developed countries like India it is still under
construction.
As its name implies, magneto hydro dynamics MHD
is concerned with the flow of a conducting fluid in
the presence of magnetic and electric field.The
fluid may be a gas at elevated temperature or
liquid metal like sodium or potassium.
The Magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) generator is a
device that converts heat energy of a fuel directly
into electrical energy without a conventional
electric generator.
In this system, an MHD convertor system is a heat
engine, in which heat taken up at a higher
temperature is partly converted into useful work
and the remainder is rejected at a lower
temperature. Like all heat engines, the thermal

efficiency of a MHD converter is increased by

supplying the heat at the heighst practical
temperature and rejecting it at the lowest practical
temperature.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The principle of Magnetohydrodynamic generator is based on
faraday's law :
In this system, the hot ionized gaseous conductor (working
fluid) is passed into the high magnetic field and thereby the
current is produced. By placing suitable electrodes (Anode and
cathode) inside the chamber, the output load is taken through
the external circuit.

CONSTRUCTION
MHD generator consist of a Combusion chamber and
generator chamber.
The fliud conductor is passed into the combusion chamber
where they are ionized at very high temperature.
There is a nozzel through which the ionized gas pass into
the generator chamber.

 The generator chamber consist of powerful magnet and a

number of oppositely located electrode pair is inserted in
the channel to conduct the electrical current generated to
an external load.
Both combusion chamber and generator chamber are
suurounded by a heat resistance material and water cooler.

Thermal resistance sealing

Water cooler

Magnet

S
Working fluidcombustion
Inlet

Electrode
Ionized Gas
N

Chamber

Load output
V

Stream out

Nozzle

WORKING
The gaseous (fluid) conductor is passed into the
combustion chamber through inlet.
By using a fuel like oil or natural gas or coal, the fluid
conductor is heated to a plasma state and hence it is
ionized.

 The temperature in the combustion chamber is around

2000K to 2400K.
The heat generated in the combustion chamber removes the
outermost electrons in the fluid conductor.
Therefore, the gas particle acquires the charge.
The charged gas particles with high velocity enters into
the generator chamber via nozzle.
The positive and negative charge moves to corresponding
electrodes (anode and Cathode) and constitute the current.
In generator chamber, based principles of Faradays law,
the high velocity ionized conducting gas particles
experience the magnetic filed at right angles to their
motion of direction and hence the potential (current) is
produced.
The direction of current (Potential) is perpendicular to both
the direction of moving gas particle and to the magnetic
field.
The electrodes are connected to an external circuit to get a
load output.
The current produced in the MHD generator are direct
current (DC).
This DC current can be converted into alternative
current (AC) using an inverter attached with the external
circuit.
In MHD generator, the seeding materials such as
potassium and cesium are used to reduce the ionization
temperature.
These seeds are mixed with fuel material such as natural
gas and coal.

Potential (E)

90

Ionized gas (Q)

90

Magnetic field (B)

TYPES OF MHD GENERATOR

The MHD systems can be classified brodly as follows :

1. Open cycle systems:

In an open cycle system, the working fluid is used on the

once through basis. The working fluid after generating
electrical energy is discharged to the atmosphere through a
stack. In this system the working fluid is air. The hot
combustion gases offer seeding can be used directly as the
working fluid.
2. Closed cycle systems :
This may be further sub classified as:
Seeded inert gas systems and
Liquid metal system.
In the closed cycle system, the working fluid is
continuously recirculated. The discharge working fluid is
reheated and returned to the converter. In this systems
helium or argon is used as the working fluid. Heat is
transferred from the comubustin gases to the working fluid
by means of a heat exchanger.

ADVANTAGES
The advantages of MHD generator are :
1. The on and off time is about second.
2. There are no moving parts, it is very reliable to use.

3. The MHD generator has high thermal efficiency of 50 to

60%.
4. Power produced is free of pollution.
5. As soon as it is started it can reach the full power level.
6. It is a direct conversion device.
7. They have a better fuel utilization.
8. It can produce large amount of power.
9. The size of the plant is small.
10. Less overall operational cost.

DISADVANTAGES
The disadvantages of MHD generator are :
1. Working temperature is very high as about 200K to
2400K.
2. The MHD system needs very large magnets and this is a
measure expense.

3. There will be high friction losses and heat transfer losses.

4. They need high pure superconductor.
5. The components get high corrosion due to high working
temperature.

APPLICATIONS

The MHD generators are used to power submarines and

aircrafts.
Electrical power production for domestic applications.
They are used in a pulsed detonation rocket engine (PDRE)
for space application.

 They can be used as power plants in industry and

uninterrupted power supply system.

CONCLUSION
To fulfill the increasing energy demand of the people,
saving of land, MHD generator concept is very successful one
and should be implemented in India to provide electricity
without the problem of power cut and the extra energy can
be provided to the grid. India as the 2nd largest country of
the world in the increasing demand of the energy and try to
find a way from which efficient and abundant source of
energy cab be available. Also MHD generator is highly efficient
source having many advantages of producing

electricity as compared to the other sources. It is therefore

the responsibility on the shoulders of the youngsters of the
earth to think smartly and take the right decision. Everyone
should starts as an individual to co-operate with the
government to make life favorable for mankind.

REFERENCES
[1]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHD_generator
[2]. www.google.com