Abstract: Systems for cooling the inner duct walls in a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator. The inner face components, adjacent the plasma, are formed of a porous material known as a transpiration material. Selected cooling gases are transpired through the duct walls, including electrically insulating and electrode segments, and into the plasma. A wide variety of structural materials and coolant gases at selected temperatures and pressures can be utilized and the gases can be drawn from the generation system compressor, the surrounding environment, and combustion and seed treatment products otherwise discharged, among many other sources. The conduits conducting the cooling gas are electrically insulated through low pressure bushings and connectors so as to electrically isolate the generator duct from the ground.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus having a noise and vibration suppression arrangement associated therewith. A suitable piping arrangement permits introduction of a pressurized fluid into a chamber above a valve plug movably disposed within the casing of the flow control apparatus. The fluid is conducted into the plug chamber from a region having a pressure therein higher than the pressure immediately beneath the valve plug and passes from the plug chamber to mix with the high velocity inlet flow entering the flow control apparatus to dissipate the energy associated with the influent flow and to prevent excessive noise and vibration levels within the flow control apparatus.