Patent ID: 8330306

Claim:
A magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) generator comprising: a conveying duct shaped for conveying a high velocity conductive fluid; a magnetic field generator arranged to generate a magnetic field across the conveying duct, substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the high velocity conductive fluid, such that the high velocity conductive fluid passes through the magnetic field when conveyed by the conveying duct; electrodes provided in the conveying duct to conduct a current induced in the high velocity conductive fluid as the high velocity conductive fluid is conveyed by the conveying duct through the magnetic field; and an electrode supplying mechanism configured to supply a liquid metal or molten salt for use as the electrodes, wherein the electrode supplying mechanism includes a pumping means for varying a height of the liquid metal or molten salt electrodes in the conveying duct, the conveying duct comprises a channel provided in a lower region of the conveying duct, the liquid metal electrodes or molten salt electrodes are arranged in wells at a bottom of the channel, and the channel has a sloping base region between the liquid metal or molten salt electrodes.