How energy efficient are a generator and a small petrol engine?
Answer:
about 20%
linked together or comparatively?
Linked together I would guesstimate about 10-20% total efficiency.
Individually, each of them are about 30-40% efficient.
Generator efficiency
As of 1994, the 22% efficiency record for closed-cycle disc MHD generators was held by Tokyo Technical Institute. The peak enthalpy extraction in these experiments reached 30.2%. Typical open-cycle Hall & duct coal MHD generators are lower, near 17%. These efficiencies make MHD unattractive, by itself, for utility power generation, since conventional Rankine cycle power plants easily reach 40%.
However, the exhaust of an MHD generator burning fossil fuel is almost as hot as the flame of a conventional steam boiler. By routing its exhaust gases into a boiler to make steam, MHD and a steam Rankine cycle can convert fossil fuels into electricity with an estimated efficiency up to 60 percent, compared to the 40 percent of a typical coal plant.
Most generators are bad on fuel, about a gallon every 90 minutes
Electrical generator: 85-99% (and only the generator from mech power to electrical power)
Small petrol engine: 10-40%
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