QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT OF THE LASL PLASMA THERMOCOUPLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR PERIOD ENDING OCTOBER 20, 1962

Technical Report · Wed Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1962

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4726744· OSTI ID:4726744

A thermionic converter was constructed to evaluate the effect of radiation shields in the interelectrode space. No significart difference was found in the total power and short-circuit currents with and without the radiation shield, although there was evidence that the cell efficiency was higher at intermediate emitter temperatures (1200 to 1800 deg C). An in-ptle test was made with a cell containing a radiation shield surrounding the emitter and connected electrically to the collector. The cell for spectroscopic studies of cesium plasma was assembled and two runs completed without cesium. Metallographic examinations were made of hot-pressed UC-- ZrC fuel pins. An electrochemical technique was devised for cutting a fuel pin from a solid UC-ZrC cylinder. A carbide fuel pin, maintained at 700 deg C, brazed with V to a Nb collector underwent a 400 hr test in Cs vapor at 400 deg C. Potted electrical coils withstood 25 pulses with no visible damage. (M.C.G.)

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• NSA Number: NSA-17-011311
• OSTI ID: 4726744
• Report Number(s): LAMS-2796
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BRAZING
CARBIDES
CESIUM
CIRCUITS
COILS
CONFIGURATION
CONVERSION
CURRENTS
CYLINDERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICITY
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
EMISSION
FUEL ELEMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MATERIALS TESTING
METALLOGRAPHY
MIXING
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NIOBIUM
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICS
PLASMA
POWER
RADIATIONS
REACTORS
RODS
SHIELDING
SOLIDS
SPECTROSCOPY
THERMIONICS
URANIUM CARBIDES
VANADIUM
VAPORS
ZIRCONIUM CARBIDES