Nonstationary flow of a conducting gas in crossed electric and magnetic fields

The plasma is inviscid, cool, and not thermally conducting; it flows in a channel of constant cross section. The solution is derived by the small parameter method, for which purpose the magnetic interaction N is used. There have been previous studies of the transient-state flow of an inviscid and thermally nonconducting plasma in crossed electric and magnetic fields [1–3]. A plasma of infinite conductivity has been considered [1], as well as flow involving entropy change in an MHD system with strong electromagnetic fields [2, 3].     

A qualitative investigation of the equations of quasi-one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic channel flow

A qualitative investigation of the system of differential equations describing the quasi-one-dimensional flow of an electrically conducting medium at small magnetic Reynolds numbers gives an idea of the different possible flow patterns occuring when the electromagnetic field and channel shape are given in different ways. Such a treatment is essential for the calculation of one-dimensional flows, and also for the solution of variational problems [1].In the literature devoted to this question studies have been made of flow in a one-dimensional electromagnetic field and a channel of constant cross section [2], as well as of the flow when the magnetic field is described by specially given functions of the flow velocity [3]. These cases reduce to the analysis of integral curves in a plane.In the present paper the investigation is carried out for an arbitrary distribution of the electric and magnetic fields and channel shape, which leads to a consideration of the behavior of integral curves in three-dimensional space. The qualitative results are illustrated by examples.     

Influence of a Longitudinal Magnetic Field on the Hall Effect in the Plasma Accelerator Channel

An analytic model of steady-state two-dimensional flows in coaxial plasma-accelerator channels in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field is proposed. The solution of the problem is found in the smooth channel approximation for the MHD equations of an ideal two-component plasma. An example of the developing axisymmetric flows is given and the features of the plasma-dynamic processes are investigated. It is found that the Hall effect and the anode flow zone can be reduced using a longitudinal field and plasma rotation.     

Some electrodynamic effects in a MHD generator duct

Theoretical and experimental studies made in recent years show that the plasma flow in the duct of a real MHD generator differs significantly from the quasi-uniform model of the flow in an idealized MHD duct. This difference appears primarily in the analysis of the electrodynamics of the MHD generator. Usually the actual electrical characteristics of the generator are poorer than expected, which may be caused, in particular, by flow nonuniformities and electrical leaks in the duct. The influence of these factors shows up particularly strongly in the presence of the Hall effect.Some qualitative and quantitative estimates of these phenomena have already been made in the literature. The necessity for taking into account the influence of the cold boundary layer on the effective conductance of the plasma in the duct was shown in [1]; in [2] it was shown that this influence increases markedly in the presence of the Hall effect. The influence of shunting of the plasma by the electrically conductive walls of the duct was considered in [3–5].The present paper describes an analysis of the combined influence of the effects associated with flow nonuniformities and electrical leaks for the case of anisotropy of the plasma conductivity, and an example is presented of the calculation of flow in a MHD generator with finite variation of the parameters.     

Cathode spots on electrode slag films in an open-cycle MHD generator

A study has been made of the function of the electrodes (cathodes) in an open-cycle MHD generator for several different reasons [1–3], because the electrode processes have marked effects on the erosion and electrical characteristics of the electrodes. The specific features of the conditions in an MHD generator channel include, particularly, the high-temperature plasma composed of combustion products together with the deposition of potassium salts on the electrodes. These factors have a marked effect on the behavior of the cathode spots. In the case of an MHD generator fueled by coal, the plasma contains the incombustible mineral part of the fuel (ash). Therefore, the electrode surfaces receive not only potash salts, but also slag, which consists of various refractory oxides that differ from the potassium compounds in electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and emissivity. These films may substantially affect the parameters of the cathode spots, and hence the erosion, and the values may differ substantially from those given in [3]. We have examined the major features of the cathode spot behavior for an open-cycle MHD generator fueled by coal.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 4, pp. 29–33, July–August, 1976.     

The boundary layers of a fully ionized two-temperature plasma with given component temperatures at an electrode

The flow of a plasma with different component temperatures in the boundary layers at the electrodes of an MHD channel is investigated without any assumptions as to self-similarity. For the calculation of the electron temperature, the full energy equation for an electron gas [1] is solved with allowance for the estimates given in [2]. In contrast to [3, 4], the calculation includes the change in temperature of electrons and ions along the channel caused by the collective transport of energy, the work done by the partial pressure forces, and the Joule heating and the energy exchange between the components. The problem of the boundary layers in the flow of a two-temperature, partially ionized plasma past an electrode is solved in simplified form by the local similarity method in [5–7]. In these papers, either the Kerrebrock equation is used [5, 6] or the collective terms are omitted from the electron energy equation [7].Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 5, pp. 3–10, September–October, 1972.The author thanks V. V. Gogosov and A. E. Yakubenko for interest in this work.     

Electric field in the transverse cross section of the channel of an MHD generator

During the motion of a partially ionized gas in magnetohydrodynamic channels the distribution of the electrical conductivity is usually inhomogeneous due to the cooling of the plasma near the electrode walls. In Hall-type MHD generators with electrodes short-circuited in the transverse cross section of the channel the development of inhomogeneities results in a decrease of the efficiency of the MHD converter [1]. A two-dimensional electric field develops in the transverse section. Numerical computations of this effect for channels of rectangular cross section have been done in [2, 3], At the same time it is advisable to construct analytic solutions of model problems on the potential distribution in Hall channels, which would permit a qualitative analysis of the effect of the inhomogeneous conductivity on local and integral characteristics of the generators. In the present work an exact solution of the transverse two-dimensional problem is given for the case of a channel with elliptical cross section stretched along the magnetic field. The parametric model of the distribution of the electrical conductivity of boundary layer type has been used for obtaining the solution. The dependences of the electric field and the current and also of the integral electrical characteristics of the generator on the inhomogeneity parameters are analyzed.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 1, pp. 3–10, January–February, 1973.     

Multirail electromagnetic launcher powered from a pulsed magnetohydrodynamic generator

The operation of an electromagnetic multirail launcher of solids powered from a pulsed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator is studied. The plasma flow in the channel of the pulsed MHD generator and the possibility of launching solids in a rapid-fire mode of launcher operation are considered. It is shown that this mode of launcher operation can be implemented by matching the plasma flow dynamics in the channel of the pulsed MHD generator and the launching conditions. It is also shown that powerful pulsed MHD generators can be used as a source of electrical energy for rapid-fire electromagnetic rail launchers operating in a burst mode.     

Hall效应对三维磁流体发生器的影响

应用三维非理想低磁雷诺数磁流体五方程模型发展了对带有强制项的Navier-Stokes方程组采用熵条件格式, 对椭圆型电势方程采用SOR进行迭代的数值方法,研究了Hall效应对磁流体旁路超燃冲压发动机中磁流体发生器流动及性能的影响.磁流体发生器采用电子束获得有效可靠的电导率. 计算结果表明,Hall效应可引起流场和电场的扭曲, 从而诱导出不稳定二次流的发展与演变,并破坏Joule热的分布. 对这些磁流体现象作出了较详细的分析.最后计算了磁流体发生器的性能参数, 说明Hall效应将导致磁流体发生器的性能下降.      

Extremal nozzle contours for gas flows with particle lag

The determination of the extremal nozzle contour for gas flow without foreign particles has been carried out in several studies [1–6], based on the calculation of the flow field using the method of characteristics.In [7, 8] the equations are derived for the characteristics and the relations along the streamlines which are required for calculating two-dimensional gas flow with foreign particles. The variational problem for two-phase flow in the two-dimensional formulation may be solved by the method of Guderley and Armitage [9] with the use of equations given in [7] or [8]; however this method is very tedious, even with the use of high-speed computers.In [10, 11] studies are made of two-phase one-dimensional flows by expanding the unknown functions in series in a small parameter, defined by the particle dimensions. In [12] a solution is given for the variational problem (in the one-dimensional formulation) of designing the contour of a nozzle with maximal impulse. However that study does not take account of the static term appearing in the impulse and the solution is obtained in relative cumbersome form. Moreover, the question of account for the losses due to nonparallelism and nonuniformity of the discharge was not considered.The present paper considers in the one-dimensional formulation the flow of a two-phase medium in a Laval nozzle with small particle lags (in velocity and temperature). The variational problem of determining the maximal nozzle impulse is formulated along the nozzle contour for fixed geometric expansion ratio. The impulse losses due to nonparallelism of the discharge are simulated by a function which depends on the ordinates which are variable along the contour and on the slope of the tangent to the contour.The author wishes to thank Yu. D. Shmyglevskii and A. N. Kraiko for helpful discussions and V. K. Starkov for carrying out the calculations on the computer.     

Exact and approximate formulations of problems for unsteady flows of conducting fluids in MHD channels

The exact formulation of problems for the unsteady flows of viscous incompressible conducting fluids in MHD channels with arbitrary wall conductivity envisions the joint solution of the equations for the fluid and for the surrounding medium, connected by the conditions at the interface, where the electric and magnetic fields must be continuous [1, 2]. If the side walls of the channel are made from highly conductive material and are connected with the external circuit, then these equations in the general case must be supplemented by the system of equations for the external circuit, written in accordance with Kirchhoff's second law.The solution of such problems in the exact formulation presents extreme difficulties. Moreover, in many particular cases which are of practical interest the problem formulation may be simplified, and solutions may be constructed in closed form.In the following we consider the possibilities of such simplification in studying unsteady flows of a fluid of high conductivity in planar MHD channels with an external electrical circuit.     

Electric characteristics of a probe in a subsonic plasma flow

Lam [1] and Su [2] have formulated and given some results of the solution to the problem of the concentration distributions of the charged particles and electric field in a weakly ionized plasma that flows past a conducting body (an electric probe) under the condition that the Reynolds number of the oncoming flow is high. In the present paper, this problem is solved by the method of exterior and interior asymptotic expansions with respect to a small parameter [3]. The form of the current-voltage characteristics of the probe is found as a function of the determining parameters of the problem. Data of an experimental verification of the obtained results for the case of a cold probe in a flowing air plasma containing added potassium are given.     

Determining the form of a body resulting in minimum heat flux,with laminar flow in the boundary layer

The exact solution of the problem of determining the optimal body shape for which the total thermal flux will be minimal for high supersonic flow about the body involves both computational and theoretical difficulties. Therefore, at the present time wide use is made of the inverse method, based on comparing the thermal fluxes for bodies of various specified form [1, 2]. The results of such calculations cannot always replace the solution of the direct variational problem. Therefore it is advisable to consider the direct variational problem of determining the form of a body with minimal thermal flux by using the approximate Newton formula for finding the gasdynamic parameters at the edge of the boundary layer. This approach has been used in finding the form of the body of minimal drag in an ideal fluid [3–5] arid with account for friction [6], and also for determining the form of a thin two-dimensional profile with minimal thermal flux for given aerodynamic characteristics [7].     

Motion of a two-temperature plasma in the channel of a disc-type magnetohydrodynamic generator

A study was made of the fully developed homogeneous flow of a two-temperature partially ionized plasma in the channel of a disc-type Hall generator. Experiments with a disc-type generator are described in [1, 2]. In a simplified statement, the problem is analogous to that considered in [3]. The present article takes the chemical reactions of ionization and recombination into account. The energy equation for an electron gas is brought down to a differential form which permits clarification of the question of the applicability of the Kerrebrock [4] formula for the difference in the temperatures of the electrons and the heavy particles.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 18–25, November–December, 1970.In conclusion, the author thanks V. V. Gogosov for his interest in the work and for his valuable observations.     

The problem of a gas bubble in plane ideal fluid flow

We study the problem of two-dimensional fluid flow past a gas bubble adjacent to an infinite rectilinear solid wall.Two-dimensional ideal fluid flow past a gas bubble on whose boundary surface-tension forces act (or a gas bubble bounded by an elastic film) has been studied by several authors. Zhukovskii, who first studied jet flows with consideration of the capillary forces, constructed an exact solution of the problem of symmetric flow past a gas bubble in a rectilinear channel [1]. However, Zhukovskii's solution is not the general solution of the problem; in particular, we cannot obtain the flow past an isolated bubble from his solution. Slezkin [2] reduced the problem of symmetric flow of an infinite fluid stream past a bubble to the study of a nonlinear integral equation. The numerical solution of this problem has recently been found by Petrova [3]. McLeod [4] obtained an exact solution under the assumption that the gas pressure p₁ in the bubble equals the flow stagnation pressure p₀. Beyer [5] proved the existence of a solution to the problem of flow of a stream having a given velocity circulation provided p₁p₀.We examine the problem of two-dimensional ideal fluid flow past a gas bubble adjacent to an infinite rectilinear solid wall. The solution depends on the value of the contact angle . The existence of a solution is proved in some range of variation of the parameters, and a technique for finding this solution is given. The situation in which =1/2 is studied in detail.     

Electrosolenoidal flows in a cylindrical cavity

The main difficulties in investigating three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows with vorticity arise, first, because it is necessary to solve an independent boundary-value problem in order to find the field of the electromagnetic forces and, second, because the regimes of these flows are strongly nonlinear for the majority of high-power technological MHD processes and a number of natural phenomena. Particular importance attaches to MHD flows generated by the interaction of an electric current applied to the fluid with the magnetic self-field. This class of MHD flows has become known as electrosolenoidal flows [1]. The presence of a definite symmetry in the distribution of the electromagnetic forces and the geometry of the region of the liquid conductor makes it possible to find a solution in self-similar form. The present paper is devoted to exact solutions of the nonlinear equations for axisymmetric electrosolenoidal flows of a conducting incompressible fluid in infinite cylindrical cavities.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 48–53, May–June, 1991.     

Dynamics of a nonuniformly conducting gas flow in a magnetic field

The dynamics of a nonuniformly conducting gas flow in the channel of a MHD generator are investigated on the basis of numerical modeling. The initial shape of the plasmoids periodically entering the MHD channel qualitatively correspond to that noted in [6, 7]. The alkali metal seed is uniformly distributed over the entire flow. The mechanism of dynamic interaction of the plasmoids and the low-conductivity gas flowing over them, the variation of the shape of the plasmoids and the evolution of the gas dynamic structure of the flow are studied.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 135–145, September–October, 1989.     

Applicability of a one-dimensional model to the calculation of the properties of a plasma generator

Most engineering methods for calculating the properties of plasma generators use similarity theory to derive dimensionless equations to generalize experimental results [1]. Although their accuracy is acceptable for practical calculations, the equations cannot be used for a physical analysis of the local phenomena occurring in the working channel of a plasma generator. In the present paper the experimental data are compared with the results of a calculation of the local and integrated heat and gasdynamic properties of a dc plasma generator with a longitudinally injected arc. The basis of the computational method is a quasi-one-dimensional gasdynamic model of the flow of an electrically conducting gas in the channel of the plasma generator developed and studied in [2].Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 122–126, July–August, 1977.In conclusion, the authors thank G. A. Lyubimov for valuable remarks.     

On the optimal distribution of the flow rate of gas blown through the side walls of the channel of a de plasmotron (plasma generator)

It is well known that the blowing of cold gas through the side walls of the channel of a dc plasmotron (plasma generator) with longitudinal blowing over the arc leads to an increase in the useful power of the plasmotron [1]. The increase is due to the increase in the combustion voltage of the arc and also the decrease in the heat fluxes to the wall of the channel. The present paper solves the problem of the optimal distribution of the flow rate of gas blown through the side walls into the channel of a dc plasmotron of arbitrary shape F(x). The flow in the main channel and in the ducts in the side walls is described by the quasi-one-dimensional gas-dynamic equations investigated qualitatively in [2] and verified experimentally in [3].Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 120–124, May–June, 1981.     

Gas-Dynamic Processes in Two-Phase Flows in MHD Generators

A plane problem of a two-phase monodisperse flow of combustion products of plasma-forming composite solid propellants in the duct of a Faraday's MHD generator with continuous electrodes, including an accelerating nozzle, MHD channel, and diffuser, is considered. An algorithm based on the pseudo-transient method is developed to solve the system of equations describing the two-phase flow. Gas-dynamic processes in the channels of the Pamir-1 setup are numerically studied. It is shown that shock-free deceleration of a supersonic flow to velocities close to the equilibrium velocity of sound in a two-phase mixture and significantly lower than the velocity of sound in the gas is possible in two-phase flows.