Zero-Load Voltage of a Novel Piston-Type Magnetohydrodynamic Ocean
Power Generation Device
Abstract
As a new type of energy structure, marine power generation has become
the main direction of future energy. Wave-energy magnetohydrodynamic
power generation technology is widely used in the development of marine
energy. To study the factors influencing the zero-load voltage of a
novel piston-type magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) ocean power generation
device, a three-dimensional flow model was developed for the power
generation device. Because a Hartmann layer existed in the rectangular
power generation channel, the internal structure of the power generation
channel was improved by changing the traditional rectangular power
generation channel to a piston-pipe channel. According to Faraday’s law
and the hydrodynamic theory, the MHD module in CFD software was used
conduct finite-element simulations of the generation device. The
influences of the inlet velocity, the velocity distribution, and the
current density on the zero-load voltage were investigated. The results
showed that for regular wave motion, the zero-load voltage was
positively proportional to the inlet velocity and the channel width.
After the channel was improved, the optimal zero-load voltage and the
minimum relative error were obtained when the inlet velocity was 3 m/s
and the channel width was 60 mm.