A STUDY PROGRAM ON CESIUM VAPOR-FILLED THERMIONIC CONVERTERS HAVING IRIDIUM EMITTERS. Yearly Summary Report, November 1, 1961-October 31, 1962

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4628517

Talaat, M E; Trimmer, D S; Kennedy, A J

An extensive mapping of the performance of cesium vapor-filled energy conversion devices was obtained for the high-vacuum work function emitter materials, iridium and rhenium, for the interelectrode gap of 0.030 in. Characteristic current-versus-voltage curves and summaries of the output power density and efficiency are given for the emitter temperature range of 1550-2000 deg K and the cesium temperature range of 475-800 deg K. The data show a systematic superiority of iridium to rhenium. Tests with a platinum emitter device confirm the trend of good performance in cesium vapor with high vacuum work function emitter materials. Data are given showing a highly precise agreement between two iridium filament emitter devices and an electron bombardment heated device with iridium emitter. At the emitter temperature of 1700 deg K, liquid cesium temperature of 525 deg K, and interelectrode gap of 0.030-in., the output power density of the three devices was 5.8 plus or minus 0.2 w/cm/sup 2/ and the energy conversion efficiency was 14.25 plus or minus 1.25%. (auth)

• Research Organization: Martin-Marietta Corp. Aerospace Div., Baltimore
• NSA Number: NSA-17-039718
• OSTI ID: 4628517
• Report Number(s): MND-2934; AD-296020
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CESIUM
CONFIGURATION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON BEAMS
EMISSION
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
ION BEAMS
IRIDIUM
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PHYSICS
PLATINUM
POWER
RHENIUM
TESTING
THERMIONICS
VACUUM
VAPORS