THE CESIUM VAPOR THERMIONIC CONVERTER. III. OBSERVED DEPENDENCE OF PERFORMANCE ON CESIUM PRESSURE, SPACING, EMITTER TEMPERATURE AND EMITTER MATERIAL

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Advan. Energy Conversion

OSTI ID:4729254

Kitrilakis, S; Hatsopoulos, G N

Extensive data obtained on the performance of a cesium vapor diode thermionic converter are described. Voltampere characteristics were obtained for four spacings from 0.002-0.019 in., emitter temperatures in about 50 un. Concent 85% steps from 1600-2050 un. Concent 85% K, and cesium pressures to 30 torr. A set of such data for emitters of Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Re, and Ir have been obtained. Heat flow through the converter could be measured by an attached calorimeter. A systematic method is described for evaluating the practical significance of this large amount of data to permit the choice of optimum materials and operating points for efficient engineering design. Evidence is presented that the observed saturation current of the extinguished mode represents true temperature-limited emission, and thus may be used to obtain data equivalent to the Langmuir S curves. (auth)

• Research Organization: Thermo Electron Engineering Corp., Waltham, Mass.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-020624
• OSTI ID: 4729254
• 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

CALORIMETERS
CESIUM
CONVERSION
CURRENTS
DIODES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON TUBES
EMISSION
HEAT TRANSFER
IRIDIUM
LANGMUIR PROBE
MEASURED VALUES
MOLYBDENUM
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NIOBIUM
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICS
PLANNING
PRESSURE
RHENIUM
TANTALUM
TEMPERATURE
THERMIONICS
TUNGSTEN
VAPORS