Optimum performance of an irreversible MHD power plant

In this work, a theoretical model to analyse the performance characteristics of a MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) generator power plant is presented. The external irreversibilities as well as the internal irreversibilities are taken into account in the analysis. General expressions for the power and efficiency are obtained when the MHD generator is operating at constant velocity and constant Mach number conditions. It is shown that both conditions are identical in performance when the generator and compressor are running reversibly. For less than 100% generator electrical efficiency, the MHD generator produces less entropy generation when it is running at constant velocity than that of constant Mach number condition.