A computer analysis for the determination of electrode voltage losses in magnetohydrodynamic-generator plasmas.

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Author
Dolson, Richard Charles
Date
1975-12Advisor
Biblarz, Oscar
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This work investigates the nature and extent of the voltage drops in the vicinity of MHD non-emitting electrodes, especially losses attributable to the sheath. The non-existence of a one-dimensional sheath solution is proved and a computer model with two-dimensional, periodic active sites representing a flat plate electrode is developed. The sheath and ambipolar regions evolve from the same set of equations in a self-consistent way, obviating the requirement to match boundary conditions between the regions. With this model the effects of a magnetic field and Joule heating are studied. Results are compared with experimental observations. To supplement the sheath investigation a peripheral study of the boundary layer voltage losses has been made and a relatively simple technique for determining these losses are presented.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
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