Electrical stresses during transients in linear MHD channels

Electrodynamical (electric field, current density, electrical power density), hydrodynamic (shear stress) and thermal (heat flux density towards the walls) stresses in a linear segmented Faraday MHD channel have been investigated by means of numerical methods for the startup procedure, a transient from the open circuit (k=1) conditions to loads with K=0.5 (optimum load) and 0.3. The main characteristics of the MHD channel were chosen corresponding to a sample having been investigated before. It has been found that the hydrodynamical and thermal stresses manifest no increase due to the transient when compared with their steady state values. However, at k≠0.5 these can be larger than at k=0.5. In contrary to this, the electrical stresses show unwanted increases at k=0.3. Therefore, it is important to work at k=0.5. Several results of the calculations have been plotted graphically. Some recommendations for the channel design have been given.