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INVESTIGATION OF THE MONOCAPILLARY THERMIONIC EMITTER AS A DUAL SOURCE OF IONS AND ELECTRONS. Quarterly Technical Progress Report No. 1

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4803828
The capillary emitter is a new approach to thermionic energy conversion. ln this concept, Cs flows through a refractory emitter structure so that the emitter becomes a dual source of ions and electrons. To determine the fundamental performance characteristics of the capillary emitter, a theoretical and experimental study was conducted on a monocapillary configuration. Theoretical work was directed toward the solution of the exact equation describing the flow of Cs through a capillary; several approaches to the solution of the integro-differential flow equation are discussed. Since none of these solutions were successful, a linear pressure drop model is used to predict capillary performance. The experimental device was a monocapillary emitter and collector structure to measure ion and electron emissions as a function of emitter temperature, Cs temperature, and spacing. The fabrication and assembly of the test devices are described in detail. (auth)
Research Organization:
General Motors Corp. Allison Div., Indianapolis
NSA Number:
NSA-16-033576
OSTI ID:
4803828
Report Number(s):
AD-273228; EDR-2617
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English