[en] The boundary layers present over the electrode surface in open-cycle Faraday MHD generators have been suitably considered and their effects on the generator power output have been studied. The electrode voltage deop, an important electrical loss caused by the electrode boundary layer giving rise to plasma nonuniformities inside the MHD channel, has been accounted for in the derivation of power density expression. The finite electrode segmentation in a real Faraday MHD generator has also been considered through its effect of reducing both the electical conductivity and the Hall parameter. Following a simplified approach, the expressions for the voltage drops across the gasdynamic layer, electrical sheath and slag layer have been derived to estimate the electrode voltage drop in a finitely segmented Faraday MHD generator with and without ash in the combustion products. The computed results of electrode voltage drop and power density have been discussed. The presence of slag layer over the electrode surface is found to reduce the electrode voltage drop considerably. It is argued that the finite segmentation of electrodes and the electrode voltage drop, modifying the power output significantly, should be properly taken into account while analysing the performance of a real Faraday MHD generator. (author)