Simulation of fission heated single-cell thermionic fuel elements in presence of oxygen using uniform electric heating

Journal Article · Thu Jan 09 23:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.51974· OSTI ID:21165718

Paramonov, Dmitry V; El-Genk, Mohamed S ^[1]

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1. Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 (United States)

This paper investigated the accuracy of simulating fission heated single-cell Thermionic Fuel Elements (TFEs) using uniform electric heating in the presence of oxygen in the interelectrode gap. The electrodes temperatures current densities, and the tungsten loss rates from the emitter surface were calculated and compared for both heating options. The effect of oxygen presence in the interelectrode gap on the TFE performance was also compared for fission and electrically heating TFE. Electrical heating results in a more uniform axial distributions of emitter temperature, current density, and tungsten loss rate distributions in the central part of the TFE compared to fission heating. Results show that introducing oxygen into the interelectrode gap reduces the output electric power for both fission and electrically heated TFEs. For example, at an effective oxygen pressure of 5x10{sup -9} torr and O/W atom ratio in the tungsten oxides deposits on the collector surface of 0.66, the electric power output at Q{sub th}=3500 W{sub th} was about 38 W{sub e} less than in the absence of oxygen, for both electrically and fission heated TFEs.

• OSTI ID: 21165718
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 387; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRIC HEATING
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRODES
FISSION
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
OXYGEN
PERFORMANCE
RADIATION HEATING
SIMULATION
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
THERMIONIC REACTORS
TUNGSTEN
TUNGSTEN OXIDES