Economic evaluation of MHD-steam powerplants employing coal gasification. Research report, 1971--1972

To assess the efficacy and economics of producing power from coal, four open-cycle magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) processing schemes were selected for study. Each involved a different mode of coal combustion and level of gas cleanliness. The options considered were: coal burned in a slagging combustor; suspension gasification with slag removal prior to combustion; parallel cyclone combustors, one operating fuel rich and the other operating with excess air; and suspension gasification by the hot exhaust gasses from the MHD duct with ash removed prior to combustion. It was concluded that a clean, high-temperature working fluid can probably be produced from coal without leading to depressed system efficiencies and exorbitant capital costs.