Electrode Phenomena in Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation

Abstract

RECENTLY¹ Maycock, Noé and Swift-Hook have described some results obtained in a magnetohydrodynamic power generation experiment involving the use of a rocket motor and a kerosene–oxygen fuel mixture seeded with potassium. Both carbon and water-cooled copper electrodes were used, with the unexpected result in the latter case that high conductivities could be obtained despite the low electrode surface temperature of about 400° C. A possible explanation was suggested in terms of a thin carbon layer found on the electrode surface at the end of the experiment. It was thought that this layer might provide thermionic emission of electrons into the gas stream and thus permit ‘electronic’ conductivity to apply to this situation.