A CESIUM VAPOR THERMIONIC CONVERTER USING A THORIUM DISPENSER CATHODE. Scientific Report No. 1

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4792528

Houston, J M

A thermionic heat-to-electricity converter was tested which consisted of 13.3 cm/sup 2/ Th dispenser cathode spaced 1 mm from a Cu or fernico anode. Current-voltage characteristics and power output were taken as a function of cathode temperature and Cs pressure. At a cathode temperature of approximately 2200 deg K, an anode temperature of 450 deg K, anid a Cs pressure of 2 x 10/sup - 2/mm, a d-c power output of 42 watts was delivered to a resistive load at an over- all efficiency of 7%. The effect of anode temperature on conyerter power output was explored by recording a series of current-voltage plots at different anode temperatures. The power output went through a maximum at an optimum anode temperature where the anode work function was minimum (optimum Cs coverage). The changes in anode work-function were also observed by mcasuring the thermionic emission from the anode. The effect of an applied axial magnetic field on the converter output was explored. At low Cs pressures a field of 20 gauss reduced power output to 2/3 of its zero-field value. At high Cs pressures a magnetic field of 80 gauss had no measurable effect on converter output. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Research Lab., Schenectady, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-010658
• OSTI ID: 4792528
• Report Number(s): AFCRL-253; AD-260357
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANODES
CATHODES
CESIUM
COATING
CONVERSION
CURRENTS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY
HEAT TRANSFER
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PHYSICS
PRESSURE
TEMPERATURE
THERMIONICS