電極分割式ヘリカル型海流MHD発電の基礎研究

As an application of superconducting technology to the field of maritime sciences, we have studied the seawater magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) power generator/hydrogen generator using a high-field superconducting magnet, paying attention to the marine natural energy. The seawater MHD generator is a unique system that not only directly transforms the kinetic energy of an ocean current/tidal current into electric energy but also generates hydrogen gas in accordance with the law of electromagnetic induction, and has the advantages of having no mechanics and being maintenance free. Recently, a new helical-type seawater MHD generator having a helical insulation wall 97 mm in diameter and 155 mm long with partitioned electrodes and a 7 T solenoid superconducting magnet has been designed, made and examined to elucidate the relationship between characteristics of the generator and a helical flow. It was found that the electromotive force obtained was in agreement with the calculated value in the helical flow region, and independent of the direction of the induced electric field.