NOBLE GAS PLASMA DIODE THERMIONIC CONVERTER
Journal Article
·
· IRE Intern. Conv. Record
OSTI ID:4092248
The direct conversion of nuclear heat to electricity is investigated in a plasma diode that utilizes fission fragments from a uranium-bearirg cathode to produce a plasma in a noble gas. The fractional ionization is relatively low, but the electron mobility in a noble gas is relatively high so that a reasonable diode impedance might be attained. The advantage of such a diode converter is that it eliminates the need for an initial charge of alkali vapor as used in other plasma diodes. An experiment was performed in the University of Michigan reactor in which a diode containing argon with a uranium carbide cathode was operated up to a temperature of 2000 deg K. This exoeriment demonstrated that the noble gas plasma diode acts as an energy converter. Subsequent analysis indicated that some of the experimental parameters limited conversion efficiency. The present theory of the noble gas plasma diode is described in which plasma sheaths at cathode and anode boundary are shown to control the operatirg characteristic of the diode. Current is limited to the random electron current in the plasma near the anode. Calculations indicate that with a reasonable set of parameters power densities of order 5 watts/cm/sup 2/ might be achieved, which is in the range of practical interest. The possibility of a noble gas plasma diode converting to a cesium diode from the formation of cesium by the fission process is described. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Motors Research Labs., Warren, Mich.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-010407
- OSTI ID:
- 4092248
- Journal Information:
- IRE Intern. Conv. Record, Journal Name: IRE Intern. Conv. Record Vol. Vol: 8: Pt. 9
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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