A Study of processes in a plasma generator of the pulsed MHD generator running on a combined pyrotechnic fuel

Abstract

This paper presents the results of numerical simulation of the processes in a two-chamber plasma generator of the pulsed MHD generator running on combustion products of a combined pyrotechnic fuel with afterburning in air oxygen. A mixture of Mg powder (a fuel) and KNO3 powder (an oxidizer and a source of the easily ionized additive) is chosen as a pyrotechnic fuel. The considered plasma generator includes a gas generator and an afterburner. Multicomponent combustion products of the selected pyrotechnic fuel contain solid particles of MgO and gaseous Mg. Within the afterburner, the unburnt Mg is burned up in the presence of air oxygen, forming MgO liquid particles. The proposed mathematical model allows one to numerically investigate all the processes occurring in a plasma generator of an MHD generator with an afterburner and to obtain the required data for determining the shape of the accelerating nozzle and the relevant parameters for calculations in the MHD channel.