磁流体发电技术是一种新型的高效发电方式，由于无需经过机械转换环节，所也称之为直接发电，燃料利用效率显着提高，用燃料（石油、天然气、燃煤、核能）直接加热成易于电离的气体，使之在2000℃高温下电离成导电的离子流，然后让其在磁场中高速流动切割磁力线，产生感应电动势即由热能直接转换成电能，这种技术也称为等离子体发电。

为了磁流体的离子化横切穿过磁场时，按电磁感应定律，等离子体的正负粒子在磁场作用下分离，而聚集在与磁力线平等的两个面上，由于电荷的聚集从而产生电；本技术难点在于需要钾、铯等微量碱金属的惰性气体如氦、氩等作为工质所以气体大规模且可接受成本的气体合成技术为一难关，另一方面磁流体高温陶瓷信道需长期在2000-3000K温度工作而电极在高温惰性气体下工作也容易腐蚀，因而材料加工术为另一大难关。

A magnetohydrodynamic generator (MHD generator) is a magnetohydrodynamic device that transforms thermal energy and kinetic energy into electricity. MHD generators are different from traditional electric generators in that they operate at high temperatures without moving parts. MHD was developed because the hot exhaust gas of an MHD generator can heat the boilers of a steam power plant, increasing overall efficiency. MHD was developed as a topping cycle to increase the efficiency of electric generation, especially when burning coal or natural gas. MHD dynamos are the complement of MHD propulsors, which have been applied to pump liquid metals and in several experimental ship engines.