Distribution of electric fault currents in MHD faraday generators

The information about the spatial distributions of currents and voltages is important for an understanding of the MHD channel performance in several aspects. The previous analysis by using an equivalent1 circuit for MHD Faraday Generators shows that the fault currents may exceed the rated currents by one order of magnitude. If, as could be expected, these large currents were drawn locally and directly from the inner core of the plasma, then its gross flow rate would be affected. If, instead, the bulk of the plasma is shielded from the disturbance and the perturbation is restricted to a thin layer near the boundary surfaces, then the resulting body force and heating affects the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer and the mode of current transfer to the electrodes. In addition, knowledge of the current distribution at the surface of the electrode itself provides guidance for its design and for the design of the interelectrode insulation