SOLAR-ASSISTED LIQUID-METAL MHD POWER-GENERATION - A STATE-OF-THE-ARTSTUDY

The research and development of LMMHD energy conversion (EC) systems w hich started in the 1960s has already come a long way and is heading t owards commercialization. Design and development of such systems has t o deal with a number of questions relating to single- and two-phase fl ows of molten metals, including different patterns of two-phase flow, interphase phenomena, heat transfer, performance of LMMHD components a nd compatibility of liquid metals with other fluids and with confineme nt materials. Liquid metal MHD (LMMHD) power conversion systems propos ed many years ago are gaining increasing attention in their various pr oposed modes, consisting of single-phase or two-phase fluid Row for a wide range of heat sources, e.g. solar energy, waste heat, nuclear ene rgy, etc. Liquid metal MHD (LMMHD) power systems have been recently pr oposed for direct electrical energy conversion of low grade thermal so urces of energy, like solar energy. Solar-powered LMMHD power generati on systems are very attractive regarding efficiency and cost per unit of installed power. Theoretical and experimental investigations carrie d out in the various aspects of these systems are presented. A state o f the art review of activities in the solar-powered LMMHD power system s field which have taken place so far is described here.