THE THERMIONIC ELEMENT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR SPACE NAVIGATION (in German)
Journal Article
·
· Atomwirtschaft (West Germany) Changed to ATW, Atomwirtsch., Atomtech.
OSTI ID:4007389
The application of thermionic elements in combination with suitable heat sources, for example a high temperature reactor, for the generation of power in a space vehicle is discussed. The most promising device at the moment is considered to be the cesium diode. Its efficiency in laboratory experiments is 14 to 16% but this may probably be increased to about 20%. A single element supplies some hundred watts at a voltage of about 1 volt and a power density of 5 to 10 watts/cm/sup 2/. A higher output voltage is obtainable by connecting several elements in series. The life of cesium diodes should amount to at least 10,000 hours. The weight/power ratio of a 500 kw generator for space vehicles consisting of a reactor (without shielding), thermionic elements, circulatory cooling system, and radiator cooler is estimated at about 5 kp/kw. ln addition to experimental apparatus, which is still predominantly electrically heated, experiments in reactors were carried out. Several thermionic reactors are being developed in the United States. The design work on a 60 and a 300 kw reactor with thermionic elements was completed and an installation for 2,000 kw is planned. The construction, mode of action, efficiency, power density, incorporation into reactors, significance for space navigation, and the state of the art of thermionic elements are reviewed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Brown, Boveri and Cie, AG, Mannheim, Ger.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-020837
- OSTI ID:
- 4007389
- Journal Information:
- Atomwirtschaft (West Germany) Changed to ATW, Atomwirtsch., Atomtech., Journal Name: Atomwirtschaft (West Germany) Changed to ATW, Atomwirtsch., Atomtech. Vol. Vol: 9: 1; ISSN ATWSA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- German
Similar Records
HIGH-TEMPERATURE VAPOR-FILLED THERMIONIC CONVERTER
PLASMA. THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
Switch properties of thermionic diodes with cesium vapor
Technical Report
·
Wed Feb 14 23:00:00 EST 1962
·
OSTI ID:4746918
PLASMA. THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
Journal Article
·
Wed Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1960
· Journal of the Electrochemical Society (U.S.) Absorbed Electrochem. Technol.
·
OSTI ID:4088856
Switch properties of thermionic diodes with cesium vapor
Technical Report
·
Sat Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1972
·
OSTI ID:4935812