A PARAMETRIC STUDY OF THE THERMIONIC DIODE SYSTEM FOR LARGE NUCLEAR- ELECTRIC POWERPLANTS IN SPACE VEHICLES
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:4804676
The potential performance of thermionic diodes converting reactor heat to electricity for propulsion of space vehicles is explored. Electron heating, thermal radiation, joulean heating, and heat conduction losses are included; losses in the plasma are not. The diode system is compared with the Rankine cycle system using radiator area per unit of output power as the criterion. The diode system can surpass the turbogenerator if the diodes can be incorporated into the reactor fuel elements, electrodes with optimum work functions can be developed, and the anodes can be cooled by conduction without electrical short circuiting. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Lewis Research Center, Cleveland
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-009716
- OSTI ID:
- 4804676
- Report Number(s):
- NASA-TN-D-1110
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BOILERS
BOILING
CONVECTION
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON TUBES
FLUID FLOW
FUEL ELEMENTS
GENERATORS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING
JETS
LOSSES
PLANNING
PLASMA
PROPULSION
RANKINE CYCLE
REACTORS
SPACE APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
SPACE VEHICLES
STEAM
STEAM GENERATORS
THERMAL RADIATION
THERMIONICS
THERMODYNAMICS
THERMOELECTRIC CELLS
TURBINES
BOILING
CONVECTION
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON TUBES
FLUID FLOW
FUEL ELEMENTS
GENERATORS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING
JETS
LOSSES
PLANNING
PLASMA
PROPULSION
RANKINE CYCLE
REACTORS
SPACE APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
SPACE VEHICLES
STEAM
STEAM GENERATORS
THERMAL RADIATION
THERMIONICS
THERMODYNAMICS
THERMOELECTRIC CELLS
TURBINES