Analysis of Ya-21u thermionic fuel elements

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Nuclear Technology

OSTI ID:418079

Paramonov, D V; El-Genk, M S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The Ya-21u unit of the Soviet-made TOPAZ-II power system has recently been tested at the Thermionic Evaluation Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A change in the unit performance was measured during these tests. In an attempt to identify the causes of this change performance, data were examined and used to estimate surface properties of electrodes of thermionic fuel elements (TFEs) of the power system. The effective emissivity was estimated at {approximately}0.03 to 0.035 higher than for as-fabricated TFE and cesiated work functions of the electrodes, which were higher than for as-fabricated TFEs. These changes in the effective emissivity and cesiated work functions, caused by gaseous impurities and air incursion in the TFEs interelectrode gap, lowered both the emitter temperature and the output load voltage thus contributing to the measured decrease in output power.

• OSTI ID: 418079
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 116; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
CESIUM
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SPACE POWER REACTORS
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
TOPAZ REACTOR