Plasma energy conversion system for electric power generation

Abstract

In the conventional conversion system, a large amount of energy (about 60%) is required to generate electric power for industrial applications and commercial usage. As a result, there is a need for more energy conversion systems which can be used to produce reliable and efficient electrical power. In this paper, the present study focuses on the direct energy conversion systems such as magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and plasmadynamic (PDC). In these systems, a plasma source is directly converted into electrical energy without the use of any mechanical energy. Furthermore, the electrical power generated from these systems is very efficient and large loss of energy is greatly minimised. The objective of the present study is to develop an improved MHD energy conversion system based on the principle of Faraday's Law of electromagnetism and plasma physics. The testing of this system will be explored using the available plasma sources in the Western Cape, South Africa. These sources may include gas discharge fluorescent light, flames, gas laser, solar wind, aurora and earth's ionosphere. Another objective of the study is to use numerical simulations (1-dimensional and 2-dimensional MHD models) to study the dynamics of plasma fluid flowing through a rectangular MHD generator channel and a conducting magnetic field.