Edward M Pierson

US Patent:

42008158, Apr 29, 1980

Filed:

Sep 19, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/943827

Inventors:

Michael Petrick - Joliet IL
Edward S. Pierson - Chicago IL
Felix Schreiner - Mokena IL

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

H02N 402

US Classification:

310 11

Abstract:

According to the present invention, coal combustion gas is the primary working fluid and copper or a copper alloy is the electrodynamic fluid in the MHD generator, thereby eliminating the heat exchangers between the combustor and the liquid-metal MHD working fluids, allowing the use of a conventional coalfired steam bottoming plant, and making the plant simpler, more efficient and cheaper. In operation, the gas and liquid are combined in a mixer and the resulting two-phase mixture enters the MHD generator. The MHD generator acts as a turbine and electric generator in one unit wherein the gas expands, drives the liquid across the magnetic field and thus generates electrical power. The gas and liquid are separated, and the available energy in the gas is recovered before the gas is exhausted to the atmosphere. Where the combustion gas contains sulfur, oxygen is bubbled through a side loop to remove sulfur therefrom as a concentrated stream of sulfur dioxide. The combustor is operated substoichiometrically to control the oxide level in the copper.