How does a magnetohydrodynamic power generator produce electricity?

A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generator produces electricity by directly converting the kinetic energy of a moving, electrically conducting fluid—typically an ionized gas or plasma—into electric energy.1

The process relies on the interaction between the moving fluid and a magnetic field. The generator functions as a heat engine: a fossil fuel is combusted to create a high-pressure, electrically conducting gas, which is then directed through a magnetic field. As the gas expands from high to low pressure, the movement of its charged particles through the magnetic field induces an electromotive force within the fluid, in accordance with Faraday’s law of induction.1

Unlike conventional power plants that use rotating mechanical turbines to drive a generator, an MHD system eliminates moving mechanical parts in the energy conversion stage, allowing it to operate at higher temperatures and potentially achieve greater thermal efficiency.1