Study of the electrical characteristics of the boundary layer on the metal surfaces in the channels of an open cycle MHD generator

The volt-ampere characteristics of the discharge through the metal-plasma gap in the channels of the U-$02$ MHD generator were studied experimentally. The electrical characteristics were analyzed in relation to the plasma temperature $($in the range $2100$–$2600^{\circ}$ K$)$, electrode temperature $(400$–$800^{\circ}$ K$)$, and thickness of the boundary layer. A simple method of calculating the prebreakdown characteristics and the breakdown voltage is proposed.