High-power pulse magnetic hydrodynamic generator fueled by a solid (powder) propellant of a new generation

A method for designing a pulsed MHDG fueled by the combustion products of the modern Start-2 aluminized plasma-forming solid propellant was developed based on experimental and numerical studies of the characteristics and operating modes of a Sakhalin pulsed magnetohydrodynamic generator (MHDG) of the first generation with a capacity of more than 500 MW fueled by a solid powder propellant (SPP). This paper presents the results of calculations and optimization of the characteristics of the designed pulsed MHDG with a self-excited resistive “iron-free” magnetic system with an electrical power of more than 500 MW. The local, integral, and specific energy, weight, and size characteristics of this generator were determined. The stability parameters of supersonic flow during strong magnetohydrodynamic deceleration of the plasma of combustion products and the self-excitation time of the magnet were determined. The obtained characteristics of pulsed MHDG were compared with similar characteristics of MHDG fueled by the combustion products of the first-generation SPP. It is shown that the obtained values the energy, mass, and size characteristics of MHDG fueled by the Start-2 SPP substantially exceed the corresponding characteristics of the pulsed MHDG fueled by the new-generation SPP.