Heat transfer studies of magnetohydrodynamic power train components

An overview of design features which can markedly influence the heat transfer capability of the upstream portion of a magnetohydrodynamic flow train is presented. Emphasis is placed on the evaluation of components that are either currently used or planned for future use in the Department of Energy, Coal Fired Flow Facility which is located at The University of Tennessee Space Institute. A general review of numerical techniques that are used for solution of two-dimensional, steady state, conduction heat transfer is given with details on the finite element method. Results from five case studies using the finite element method are presented. Experimental results of conduction heat transfer through a typical magnetohydrodynamic generator electrode collected during laboratory bench tests are evaluated and compared with theory. In cases where thermal gradient magnitudes permitted comparison, mapping of experimental and theoretical temperatures around the cooling port of a typical Hall generator electrode resulted in good agreement between the two.