EXPERIMENTAL OPTIMIZATION OF CESIUM VAPOR THERMIONIC CONVERTERS WITH METAL EMITTERS

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1962 · Advan. Energy Conversion

OSTI ID:4716061

Weeks, C C; Dahleen, R C; Gingrich, J E

Parametric studies are being conducted utilizing both cylindrical fixed- spacing and parallel-plane, variablespacing thermionic converters. A brief description of the design and fabrication of these converters is given, and the techniques of component preparation, the use of getters and the philosophy of operation are illustrated. The instrumentation for control and measurement of the various parameters is discussed. The emitters of these parallel plane and cylindrical diodes are heated by electron bombardment. Constant power input is achieved by using a controller which is insensitive to back heating from the emitter. The load which is used with these diodes can be varied to produce the full operating range from reverse currents to the applied voltage region. At the higher emitter temperatures, surface ionization appears to be sufficient for space charge neutralization. Under these conditions the power density of a converter, operated at constant emitter temperature and optimum cesium pressure, increases as the spacing is decreased. At lower emitter temperatures, approximately 1450 un. Concent 85% C and less for molybdenum, surface ionization is insufficient to neutralize the space charge. Thus, the additional ions must be supplied from volume ionization, resulting in an optimum spacing for maximum power densities. Curves showing power densities, optimum cesium pressures, and optimum collector temperatures versus spacing for the variable spacing diode are given and discussed. Efficiency curves for several refractory emitters are given. The effects of the individual optimization of cesium pressure, collector temperature, and load resistance are shown for both ignited'' and unignited'' modes of operation. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International, Canoga Park, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-020604
• OSTI ID: 4716061
• Journal Information: Advan. Energy Conversion, Journal Name: Advan. Energy Conversion Vol. Vol: 2
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CESIUM
CONVERSION
CURRENTS
CYLINDERS
DIODES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON BEAMS
EMISSION
FABRICATION
HEATING
INSTRUMENTS
IONIZATION
IONS
MEASURED VALUES
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
OPERATION
PHYSICS
PLANNING
POWER
PREPARATION
PRESSURE
REFRACTORIES
SPACE CHARGE
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
THERMIONICS
VAPORS
VOLUME