Powerful Pulsed Magnetohydrodynamic Generator Fueled by a Solid (Powder) Propellant of a New Generation

Abstract

A method for designing a pulsed magnetohydrodynamic generator (MHDG) fueled by the combustion products of the modern aluminized plasma-forming Start-2 solid propellant was developed based on experimental and numerical studies of the characteristics and operating modes of the first-generation 500-MW Sakhalin pulsed MHDG fueled by a solid powder propellant (SPP). This paper presents the results of calculation and optimization of the characteristics of the designed pulsed MHDG with a self-excited resistive “iron-free” magnetic system with an electric power of more than 500 MW. The local, integral, and specific energy, weight, and size characteristics of this generator were determined. Stability parameters of supersonic flow during strong magnetohydrodynamic deceleration of the plasma of combustion products and the time of self-excitation of the magnet were determined. The characteristics of the pulsed MHDG were compared with those of MHDGs fueled by the combustion products of the first-generation SPP. It is shown that the obtained energy, mass, and size characteristics of the MHDG fueled by the Start-2 SPP are much superior to those of the pulsed MHDG fueled by the first-generation SPP.