OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS OF OPEN-CYCLE MHD.

Open-cycle MHD (OCMHD) conceptual power plant designs were studied in the context of a utility to form a better basis for understanding their design requirements and market possibilities. Based on assumed or projected plant costs and performance characteristics, assumed economics and escalation factors, and one coal supply and delivery scenario, overall and regional OCMHD utility market possibilities are reviewed. For one hypothetical utility, a generation expansion plan is developed that includes OCMHD as a baseload power generating station. The impact on generation system economics and operation of alternating selected MHD plant cost and performance characteristics is reviewed. Baseload plant availability is shown as an important design consideration, and a general methodology and data base is developed to assess the impact on design and cost of various reliability decisions. An overall plant availability goal is set and the required availabilities of various MHD high technology components are derived to meet the plant goal. The approach is extended to projecting channel life goals for various plant design configurations and assumptions.