The military-industrial scientific research system of the academic master.

Chapter 1309 What if...it's not just missiles?

"With plasma..."

Faced with this new term mentioned by Chang Haonan, Han Chenfeng, as a researcher in the field of plasma, did not appear confused like most other people.

Instead, I quickly captured the essence of it:

"That is, magnetohydrodynamic power generation technology..."

This sentence does not use a questioning tone, it is just a confirmation of one's own thoughts.

Therefore, he did not wait for Chang Haonan to answer and continued almost immediately:

"Foreign research institutions and universities have built several magnetohydrodynamic power generation devices based on different principles. However, they are only small-power products for verification purposes. The technical difficulty is not high, so you should not need to find someone specifically to be responsible for it..."

Since it is difficult to generate a power generation fluid with suitable properties and high enough magnetic permeability, the magnetohydrodynamic power plants built by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War were mainly based on magnetohydrodynamic-steam/gas combined power generation, that is, using the same coal-fired boilers or gas turbines as ordinary power stations to generate plasma, and then introducing this plasma into a strong magnetic field to generate electricity.

Speaking of which, the idea is somewhat similar to Chang Haonan's, which is to use aircraft engines to generate plasma and then use it to enhance the stealth effect.

But it is obvious that the plasma generated in this way is obviously insufficient in terms of electron density and energy. Even if it is used for stealth, it can only cover some key positions at the tail of the aircraft.

As for generating electricity...

The effect is of course almost as funny.

Although the power of the entire facility can reach tens or even hundreds of megawatts on paper, in reality it is all calculated by fully utilizing mechanical energy, and the part that actually belongs to the magnetic fluid is very small.

Not surprisingly, these power plants all switched back to traditional working methods after the research was completed or interrupted...

Therefore, if we want to truly obtain a practical magnetohydrodynamic power generation technology, the key is not the power generation part, but how to obtain a sufficiently effective working fluid in the front...

The analysis process sounds complicated, but when you really think about it, it's just a matter of seconds.

Combined with some rumors he had heard in the past, an idea that could completely close the loop quickly formed in his mind.

Han Chenfeng took a deep breath, then raised his head and looked at the window next to him——

About 500 meters away, there stood a high gray wall that stretched for several kilometers, blocking most of the surrounding views.

But insiders basically know that on the other side of the high wall is the core area of ​​Huairou Science City, where the JF10 and JF14 wind tunnels are located...

"So... you are planning to take advantage of our country's advantages in detonation drive technology, use the detonation-driven shock tube as the energy source of the magnetohydrodynamic generator, and use the driven gas compressed by the strong shock wave as the power generation medium to replace the high-temperature combustion gas generated in the combustion chamber of the traditional magnetohydrodynamic generator..."

Although Han Chenfeng has been focusing on unpopular research directions in recent years, resulting in few worthy achievements and even failing to pass the first round of academician selection, this does not mean that he is a slacker.

Relying only on Chang Haonan's few words and the meeting place chosen for the two, the correct answer was deduced in a very short time.

Or rather, part of the correct answer.

"It seems that what Lao Liu said is correct...Institute 240 has done solid basic research."

Chang Haonan nodded as he spoke, with an expression of approval on his face.

In fact, Liu Yongquan had not made many comments on Institute 240 and Han Chenfeng before, and could only say a few nice words as a routine.

But mentioning the former's name at this time will undoubtedly make the subsequent cooperation between the two parties smoother.

Sure enough, Han Chenfeng's eyes changed slightly.

However, when it comes to this kind of thing, it's better to overdo it than not. If you talk about it too much, it will seem deliberate.

So Chang Haonan stopped there, and after a slight hint, he changed the subject and got back to the point:

"You're right, but my complete idea is more complicated, and can be divided into two different branches depending on the loading platform."

He clicked on a diagram on his computer:

"The basic approach is to first let the air flow into the Laval nozzle to achieve pressure reduction and speed increase, convert the thermal energy of the gas into kinetic energy, and then introduce the outflowing gas into a Faraday channel to pre-ionize the gas under the action of arc discharge. Of course, this process is essentially equivalent to a plasma thruster, so some kinetic energy will be released. If we pay attention to the energy conversion efficiency, we can also use this part of the energy, such as blowing a plasma torch to melt materials..."

"After the Faraday channel, the high-speed low-temperature gas is mixed with the externally introduced fuel and enters the detonation stage, achieving efficient release of the fuel's chemical energy, further increasing the plasma energy in the working fluid, and finally entering the magnetohydrodynamic power generation stage to complete the equilibrium plasma power generation process, part of which is output as electrical energy, and the other part is used for arc discharge in the next cycle."

Han Chenfeng stared at the schematic diagram on the computer for a while:

“So I need to determine the electron temperature, density and energy of the plasma field of the jet plasma, determine the most suitable working gas and power generation conditions… and perhaps calculate the model parameters of the entire power generation system?”

I have to say, it is indeed easy to discuss issues with insiders.

Because it involves the detonation stage and shock tube, Chang Haonan had previously asked Jiang Zonglin and other staff from the Institute of Mechanics to assist in plasma-related research.

Although the work can be carried out normally, it always needs some push and movement.

It’s not like now, he only gave a picture and the other party understood what he needed to do.

"You are not required to set the model parameters for the time being. The most critical process of the working fluid generation is still detonation, so this part of the work can be handed over to the comrades here..."

Chang Haonan waved his hand:

"You are responsible for one more thing, which is another option besides the basic route."

He lightly clicked the left button of the mouse, and the schematic diagram on the computer screen changed immediately.

"Although the power generation principle just now is simple, it can only generate short pulses with a duration of no more than 100ms. But imagine if the existing detonation section is modified to emit pulse detonations at a certain period, and the working gas is changed from air to a gas that is more easily ionized and recycled, then it can generate a periodic electric potential similar to alternating current like a conventional generator..."

"..."

Compared to the previous instant understanding, this time, Han Chenfeng did not react immediately. Instead, he listened to Chang Haonan's introduction silently and fell into deep thought...

It’s not that there are any technical issues that I can’t understand—

In fact, there is almost no difference between the two solutions in principle, but the practical difficulty at the engineering level is very different.

What really confused him was the significance of the latter technology.

After a while, Han Chenfeng still couldn't help his curiosity. Academician Chang looked approachable and probably wouldn't be offended by one or two questions:

"But Academician Chang... Although I don't know much about wind tunnels, under the premise of the same technical level, the peak energy generated by periodic pulse detonation should be far less than that of a single detonation?"

Chang Haonan nodded, motioning for the other party to continue.

Han Chenfeng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this, and confirmed that he had not asked a particularly low-level question, so he continued:

"But the biggest advantage of magnetohydrodynamic power generation is that the pulse peak energy is high, which can save intermediate energy storage components, high-speed rotating parts and high-power switches and directly transfer energy to the load. If it only provides general high-voltage AC power, then various ordinary power stations can meet the requirements. Why use such a high-cost technology?"

Chang Haonan did not give a direct answer, but smiled and asked:

"Comrade Chen Feng should know what kind of research and development tasks Huairou Science City is undertaking, right?"

"of course……"

Han Chenfeng replied.

He came from the nuclear industry and his level of confidentiality was not low. He had been directly invited here by Chang Haonan, so of course he knew about the existence of hypersonic weapons.

"Then what kind of power source do you think can meet the power requirements of the aircraft, given the simple structure and lack of rotating parts of the ramjet engine?"

Chang Haonan was obviously in good spirits and kept the question in suspense for a while.

"Batteries or fuel cells, of course."

Although Han Chenfeng is not a graduate of aerospace majors, he is not without common sense:

"Academician Chang, you can't test me... Generally, only the control, communication and guidance subsystems on a missile need electricity. The demand and startup time are also limited. Batteries can fully meet the needs..."

However, Chang Haonan didn't seem to be joking:

"I'm not testing you..."

He said, glancing at the clock on the wall next to him.

"What if it wasn't a missile?"

"..."

Before Han Chenfeng could speak again, there was a knock on the door.

A man of similar age was standing at the door of the office, wearing a down jacket from the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation:

"Academician Chang..."

The visitor only then noticed Han Chenfeng sitting on the sofa and immediately swallowed back the rest of his words.

"It's okay. This is Han Chenfeng, director of the 240th Institute of the Nuclear Industry Group. He is one of our own who is here to help us with plasma-related research."

Chang Haonan explained.

The other party then continued:

"According to your requirements, the waverider aerodynamic model that meets the wide speed range requirements is in place and can be tested at any time."

Han Chenfeng was still wondering what Chang Haonan's question just now meant, but suddenly he heard a key word that made him suddenly enlightened - wide-speed domain requirement.

In other words, the other party’s research goal is not... or is not just a one-time deal used in a narrow design state.

Compared to a missile that just needs to accelerate as much as possible and then smash into the target, this requirement seems closer to...

An airplane?