Double-duct liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic engine
First Claim
1. A magnetohydrodynamic apparatus comprising:
- first duct means for containing a quantity of liquid metal;
second duct means for containing a quantity of liquid metal;
means for imparting reciprocating motion in the liquid metal contained in the first and second ducts in opposite directions; and
means for imposing a magnetic field on a portion of the first and second duct means, thereby generating an AC electric potential.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An internal combustion, liquid metal (LM) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) engine and an alternating current (AC) magnetohydrodynamic generator, are used in combination to provide useful AC electric energy output. The engine design has-four pistons and a double duct configuration, with each duct containing sodium potassium liquid metal confined between free pistons located at either end of the duct. The liquid metal is forced to flow back and forth in the duct by the movement of the pistons, which are alternatively driven by an internal combustion process. In the MHD generator, the two LM-MHD ducts pass in close proximity through a Hartmann duct with output transformer. AC power is produced by operating the engine with the liquid metal in the two generator ducts always flowing in counter directions. The amount of liquid metal maintained in the ducts may be varied. This provides a variable stroke length for the pistons. The engine/generator provides variable AC power at variable frequencies that correspond to the power demands of the vehicular propulsion. Also the engine should maintain nearly constant efficiency throughout the range of power usage. Automobiles and trucks could be powered by the invention, with no transmission or power converter devices being required.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetohydrodynamic apparatus comprising:
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first duct means for containing a quantity of liquid metal; second duct means for containing a quantity of liquid metal; means for imparting reciprocating motion in the liquid metal contained in the first and second ducts in opposite directions; and means for imposing a magnetic field on a portion of the first and second duct means, thereby generating an AC electric potential. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A magnetohydrodynamic apparatus comprising:
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a first duct having first and second closed, opposite axial ends and a Hartmann portion disposed between the opposite axial ends; a second duct having first and second closed, opposite axial ends and a Hartmann portion disposed between the opposite axial ends; the Hartmann portions of the first and second ducts being formed by three vertically spaced apart insulating plates, first and second conductive side electrode plates disposed between an upper-most one and a medial one of the three insulating plates, and third and fourth conductive side electrode plates disposed between a lower-most one and the medial one of the three insulating plates; a permanent magnet having north and south pole pieces and a gap, the Hartmann portions of the first and second ducts being disposed in the gap of the permanent magnet; first and second fluid-moving pistons disposed in opposite end portions of the first duct and confining a quantity of liquid metal therebetween; third and fourth fluid-moving pistons disposed in opposite end portions of the second duct and confining a quantity of liquid metal therebetween; and means for imparting synchronous, reciprocating motion in the first, second, third and fourth fluid-moving pistons to thereby impart reciprocating movement of liquid metal through the first and second ducts in opposite directions.
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19. A method of producing AC electric current comprising the steps of:
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containing a quantity of liquid metal in first duct means; containing a quantity of liquid metal in a second duct means; juxtaposing a portion of the first and second duct means; imparting reciprocating motion in the liquid metal contained in the first and second duct means in opposite directions; and imposing a magnetic field on the juxtaposed portions of the first and second duct means, thereby generating an AC electric potential as the liquid metal passes through the magnetic field in opposite directions. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification