On investigations in mhd energy conversion

A review of studies in the field of MHD-power conversion by 1974 is presented. Problems of introducing MHD-generators into greater energetics are considered. The main trends of researches in the MHD-plants with open cycles is the search for increasing the temperature of combustion products up to 1500 deg C and more, construction of effective electrode walls in the channel of generator. Parameters of Soviet plants U-02 and U-25 are given. For 1975-1985 it is stipulated to complete designing and constructing the basic model of an industrial MHD-power plant, a prototype of an MHDPP of an open cycle of the first generation. Prospects of development of the first generation MHD power plants are considered. Th efficiency is supposed to reach 50%. At the stage of introduction of MHD power plants of the first generation the specific consumption of fuel would decrease by 20-25%, and the cooling water consumption by a factor of 1.5 against conventional steam electric station