Three-dimensional behavior of arc current near electrodes of MHD generator

Three-dimensional behavior of arc current near electrodes of Faraday-type MHD generator are studied by time-dependent three-dimensional numerical analyses. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved with an implicit TVD scheme with the radiative heat transfer solved by a finite volume method, while the Maxwell equations are solved by using the Galerkin FEM. In the case of the short-circuit load (I=160A), the present generator does not suffer from the inter-anode breakdown The Lorentz force working at the electrical current concentration at the cathode, on the other hand, brings the concentration current to the downstream, resulting in the strong inter-cathode breakdown.