Sharif Digital Repository

The performance of an MHD generator utilizing plasma as working fluid has been assessed from the viewpoint of the second law of thermodynamics. The plasma flow in the generator linear duct has been solved by dividing the channel cross-section to an inviscid core region and the viscous boundary layers in the vicinity of the walls. The Hall effect has been taken into account and equilibrium ionization has been assumed. The dependence of the plasma properties such as Hall parameter, the coefficients of thermal and electrical conductivity, and viscosity on the plasma state has also been considered. Using the information obtained on the plasma behaviour in the generator, the entropy generation...