IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v282y2023ics0360544223016456.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A method to optimize the external magnetic field to suppress the end current in liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generators

Author

Listed:
  • Jiang, Chao
  • Wang, Tong
  • Zhu, Shunmin
  • Yu, Guoyao
  • Wu, Zhanghua
  • Luo, Ercang

Abstract

Liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic (LMMHD) generators can generate electricity from the movement of liquid metal in an external magnetic field, without any mechanical moving parts. They can be applied in scenarios that require a highly reliable generator, including harvesting ocean wave energy and space nuclear power generation. However, in practice, the presence of end current in LMMHD generators limits the generator efficiency to a relatively low level, which restricts their wide application. After analyzing the generating mechanism of the end current, we report herein a method to optimize the external magnetic field that cancels the electrostatic field with the motional electromotive force and suppresses the end current in LMMHD generators. We use two-dimensional numerical simulations with the proposed method to demonstrate its effectiveness, which we validate with three-dimensional numerical simulations. Both the two- and three-dimensional numerical results show that this method should suppress the end current in the LMMHD generator, thus cutting the internal joule heating nearly in half and improving the generator efficiency by 9.5%. This work provides in-depth insights into both the generating mechanism and the suppression of the end current and contributes to the development of high-efficiency LMMHD generators.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Chao & Wang, Tong & Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & Wu, Zhanghua & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "A method to optimize the external magnetic field to suppress the end current in liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:282:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223016456
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.128251
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544223016456
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2023.128251?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qiu, Shouqiang & Liu, Kun & Wang, Dongjiao & Ye, Jiawei & Liang, Fulin, 2019. "A comprehensive review of ocean wave energy research and development in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    2. José Carlos Domínguez-Lozoya & Sergio Cuevas & David Roberto Domínguez & Raúl Ávalos-Zúñiga & Eduardo Ramos, 2021. "Laboratory Characterization of a Liquid Metal MHD Generator for Ocean Wave Energy Conversion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Saidi, M.H. & Montazeri, A., 2007. "Second law analysis of a magnetohydrodynamic plasma generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(9), pages 1603-1616.
    4. Jiang, Chao & Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & Luo, Ercang & Li, Ke, 2022. "Numerical and experimental investigations on a regenerative static thermomagnetic generator for low-grade thermal energy recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    5. Yang, Rui & Wang, Junxiang & Wu, Zhanghua & Huang, Bangdou & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Performance analysis of thermoacoustic plasma MHD generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    6. Zhu, Shunmin & Wang, Tong & Jiang, Chao & Wu, Zhanghua & Yu, Guoyao & Hu, Jianying & Markides, Christos N. & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Experimental and numerical study of a liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generator for thermoacoustic power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    7. Khalili, Sufia & Jafarian Dehkordi, Ali & Giahi, Mohammad Hossein, 2015. "Investigating the effect of channel angle of a subsonic MHD (Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic) generator on optimum efficiency of a triple combined cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 543-555.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Antoine Alemany & Arturs Brekis & Augusto Montisci, 2023. "A Liquid Metal Alternate MHD Disk Generator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Zhu, Shunmin & Wang, Tong & Jiang, Chao & Wu, Zhanghua & Yu, Guoyao & Hu, Jianying & Markides, Christos N. & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Experimental and numerical study of a liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic generator for thermoacoustic power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    3. Sheikholeslami, Mohsen & Ganji, Davood Domiri, 2014. "Ferrohydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic effects on ferrofluid flow and convective heat transfer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 400-410.
    4. Sheikholeslami, M. & Gorji-Bandpy, M. & Ganji, D.D., 2013. "Numerical investigation of MHD effects on Al2O3–water nanofluid flow and heat transfer in a semi-annulus enclosure using LBM," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 501-510.
    5. Liu, Zhengxuan & Zhou, Yuekuan & Yan, Jun & Tostado-Véliz, Marcos, 2023. "Frontier ocean thermal/power and solar PV systems for transformation towards net-zero communities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    6. Liu, Zhan & Zhang, Yilun & Lv, Xinyu & Zhang, Yao & Liu, Junwei & Su, Chuanqi & Liu, Xianglei, 2023. "An electricity supply system by recovering the waste heat of commercial aeroengine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    7. Zhongliang Meng & Yun Chen & Shizhen Li, 2022. "The Shape Optimization and Experimental Research of Heave Plate Applied to the New Wave Energy Converter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Kamranzad, Bahareh & Lin, Pengzhi & Iglesias, Gregorio, 2021. "Combining methodologies on the impact of inter and intra-annual variation of wave energy on selection of suitable location and technology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 697-713.
    9. Liu, Xiaodong & Chen, Zheng & Si, Yulin & Qian, Peng & Wu, He & Cui, Lin & Zhang, Dahai, 2021. "A review of tidal current energy resource assessment in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    10. Si, Yulin & Liu, Xiaodong & Wang, Tao & Feng, Bo & Qian, Peng & Ma, Yong & Zhang, Dahai, 2022. "State-of-the-art review and future trends of development of tidal current energy converters in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    11. Meng Qi & Xin Dai & Bei Zhang & Junjie Li & Bangfan Liu, 2023. "The Evolution and Future Prospects of China’s Wave Energy Policy from the Perspective of Renewable Energy: Facing Problems, Governance Optimization and Effectiveness Logic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-25, February.
    12. Jonathan Hey & Maheswar Repaka & Tao Li & Jun Liang Tan, 2022. "Design Optimization of a Rotary Thermomagnetic Motor for More Efficient Heat Energy Harvesting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-22, August.
    13. Budi Azhari & Fransisco Danang Wijaya & Edwar Yazid, 2021. "Performance of Linear Generator Designs for Direct Drive Wave Energy Converter under Unidirectional Long-Crested Random Waves," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-28, August.
    14. Soltani, M. & Moradi Kashkooli, Farshad & Alian Fini, Mehdi & Gharapetian, Derrick & Nathwani, Jatin & Dusseault, Maurice B., 2022. "A review of nanotechnology fluid applications in geothermal energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    15. Meng Shao & Shulei Zhang & Jinwei Sun & Zhixin Han & Zhuxiao Shao & Chuanxiu Yi, 2022. "GIS-MCDM-Based Approach to Site Selection of Wave Power Plants for Islands in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, June.
    16. Zhongliang Meng & Yanjun Liu & Jian Qin & Shumin Sun, 2021. "Mooring Angle Study of a Horizontal Rotor Wave Energy Converter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-14, January.
    17. Jin, Peng & Zheng, Zhi & Zhou, Zhaomin & Zhou, Binzhen & Wang, Lei & Yang, Yang & Liu, Yingyi, 2023. "Optimization and evaluation of a semi-submersible wind turbine and oscillating body wave energy converters hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    18. Khalili, Sufia & Jafarian Dehkordi, Ali & Giahi, Mohammad Hossein, 2015. "Investigating the effect of channel angle of a subsonic MHD (Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic) generator on optimum efficiency of a triple combined cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 543-555.
    19. Ibáñez, Guillermo & Cuevas, Sergio, 2010. "Entropy generation minimization of a MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) flow in a microchannel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 4149-4155.
    20. Guo, Lixian & Zhao, Dan & Cheng, Li & Dong, Xu & Xu, Jingyuan, 2024. "Enhancing energy conversion performances in standing-wave thermoacoustic engine with externally forcing periodic oscillations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:282:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223016456. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.