Magnetohydrodynamic Electrical Power Generation Hugo K. Messerle University of Sydney, Australia The global demand for energy continues to grow. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) conversion processes offer a highly efficient, clean and direct conversion of energy for power generation and propulsion. By converting the kinetic energy of a flowing fluid into electricity directly, MHD systems help address the problems of environmental pollution. At the same time MHD is particularly suitable for primary energy sources or fuels providing energy at temperatures extending far beyond those manageable by any conventional thermal conversion plant. It therefore offers a potentially more effective utilisation of fossil and nuclear fuels. The author covers all aspects of MHD power generation, including the design and operation of MHD conversion systems in practice. Features include: A comprehensive introduction to the principles behind the interaction of magnetic field and electric currents with electrically conducting fluids in the conversion of energy. Coverage of all aspects of generator configurations, as well as the disk generator, multi-phase converters, and propulsion systems. Study of the design for AC power generation, covering the control and power conditioning of the generator and the integration of such designs into existing power systems. Study of the use of MHD plant as part of a topping cycle combined with a steam and/or gas turbine or ternary cycle potentially leading to combined cycle efficiencies of up to 60%. Relevant worked examples in each chapter to assist the reader with self-study and the understanding of the topic. This text will appeal to advanced students in power engineering, physics and mechanics. Practising engineers and scientists is the field of power technology will find if an excellent practical reference and a basis for developing ideas on large scale MHD processes. Magnetohydrodynamic Electrical Power Generation forms a part of the Energy Engineering Learning Package. This innovative distance learning package has been established to train power engineers to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges in this exciting field. Organised by a team of distinguished, international academics, the modular course is aimed at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as power engineers working in industry. World Solar Summit Process

Liquid metal MHO is within the scope of two series of international conferences. One is the International Congress on "MHD Power Generation", held every four years, which includes technical and economical aspects as well as scientific questions. The other if the Beer-Sheva Seminar on "MHO Flows and Turbulence", held every three years in Israel. In addition to these well established meetings, an IUTAM Symposium was previously organized in Cambridge (UK) in 1982 on "Metallurgical Applications of MHD" by the late Arthur Shercliff. It was focussed on a very specific subject developing radiply from the middle of the 1970's. The magnetic field was generally AC, including frequencies high enough for the skin-depth to be much smaller than the typical length scale of the liquide pool. And the development of new technologies, or the improvement of existing ones, was the main justification of most of the researches presented and discussed. Only two participants from Eastern countries attended this Symposium. By the middle of the 1980's we felt that on this very same topic ideas had reached much more maturity than in 1982. We also realized that a line of research on MHD flows related to fusion reactors (tokamaks) was developing significantly, with particular emphasis on flows at large interaction parameter.