Thermion: Verification of a thermionic heat pipe in microgravity. Final Report, 1990 - 1991

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7239615

The design and development is examined of a small excore heat pipe thermionic space nuclear reactor power system (SEHPTR). The need was identified for an in-space flight demonstration of a solar powered, thermionic heat pipe element. A demonstration would examine its performance and verify its operation in microgravity. The design of a microsatellite based technology demonstration experiment is proposed to measure the effects of microgravity on the performance of an integrated thermionic heat pipe device in low earth orbit. The specific objectives are to verify the operation of the liquid metal heat pipe and the cesium reservior in the space environment. Two design configurations are described; THERMION-I and THERMION-II. THERMION-I is designed for a long lifetime study of the operations of the thermionic heat pipe element in low earth orbit. Heat input to the element is furnished by a large mirror which collects solar energy and focuses it into a cavity containing the heat pipe device. THERMION-II is a much simpler device which is used for short term operation. This experiment remains attached to the Delta II second stage and uses energy from 500 lb of alkaline batteries to supply heat energy to the heat pipe device.

• Research Organization: Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7239615
• Report Number(s): N-92-24794; NASA-CR-190010; NAS-1.26:190010; CNN: NASW-4435
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Original contains color illustrations
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
HEAT PIPES
DESIGN
THERMIONIC CONVERSION
CESIUM
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
FLIGHT TESTING
GRAVITATION
LIQUID METALS
MIRRORS
ORBITS
SATELLITES
SERVICE LIFE
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR ENERGY
SPACE FLIGHT
SPACE POWER REACTORS
ALKALI METALS
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
LIFETIME
LIQUIDS
METALS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
140502* - Solar Energy Conversion- Thermonic & Thermoelectric conversion