THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUXILIARY ELECTRODE THERMIONIC CONVERTER

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4678056

Hall, W B; O'Grady, J J

Work accomplished to improve efficiency and life expectancy of thermionic energy converters for space applications is described. A converter was developed which employed an emitter thermally bonded to, but electrically insulated from, a central heat source tubing suitable for liquid metal. Power levels in excess of one watt per square centimeter were obtained at an operating temperature of 1200 deg C with an efficiency of 5%. As a result of studies performed during the program, converters can now be designed which employ only materials compatible with cesium for greater reliability and longer life. Improved performance and series operation of converters on a liquid-metal loop were demonstrated. (auth)

• Research Organization: Radio Corp. of America. Electron Tube Div., Lancaster, Penna.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-032702
• OSTI ID: 4678056
• Report Number(s): ASD-TDR-63-442
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CESIUM
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
ENERGY
HEAT TRANSFER
INSTRUMENTS
LIQUID METALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PHYSICS
PLANNING
SPACE FLIGHT
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
THERMIONICS
USES