Magnetohydrodynamics in a closed cycle inert gas MHD generator

In the paper is discussed nonequilibrium MHD power generation with high enthalpy extraction. The shock tunnel experiment with a disk generator-driven helium gas could result in 21.4 percent enthalpy extraction for 2200 K gas temperature. The experimental results can be qualitatively explained by a quasi-one dimensional approach which can take into account the dynamical processes such as fluctuations and the shock wave of working gas. Since externally induced fluctuations by control error may reduce the performance of the generator, the parameters of the generator must be carefully controlled.