Fundamental Study of Helical-Type Seawater MHD Power Generation with Partitioned Electrodes

As an application of superconducting technology to the field of maritime sciences, the authors have studied a seawater magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) power generator/hydrogen generator using a high-field superconducting magnet, focusing on natural marine energy. The seawater MHD power generator is a unique system that not only transforms the kinetic energy of ocean and tidal currents directly into electric energy but also generates hydrogen gas in accordance with the law of electromagnetic induction. Recently, a new helical-type seawater MHD generator with partitioned electrodes having a helical insulation wall with an outer diameter of 97 mm and a length of 155 mm and a 7 T solenoid superconducting magnet has been designed, fabricated and examined to elucidate the relationship between the characteristics of the generator and helical flow. It was found that the electromotive force obtained was in agreement with the calculated value in stable helical flow and was independent of the direction of the induced electric field.