Technology status of Thermionic Fuel Elements for space nuclear power

Conference · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5496195

Holland, J W; Yang, L

Over a half-million thermionic test hours were accumulated in the earlier thermionic fuel element (TFE) development program. When the program was terminated in early 1973, TFEs had operated 12,500 h with projected three-year lifetimes, and individual laboratory converters operated more than five years with stable performance. Primary life-limiting factors were thermionic emitter dimensional increases due to interactions with the fuel and electrical insulator structural damage from fast neutrons. Multiple options for extending TFE lifetimes to seven years or longer are available.

• Research Organization: GA Technologies Inc., San Diego, California
• OSTI ID: 5496195
• Report Number(s): CONF-840804-; TRN: 85-015364
• Journal Information: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Vol. 4; Conference: Intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, San Francisco, CA, USA, 19 Aug 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
PERFORMANCE
SERVICE LIFE
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
NASA
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
THERMIONIC EMITTERS
THERMIONIC REACTORS
US DOE
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FUEL ELEMENTS
MOBILE REACTORS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
US ORGANIZATIONS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
300403* - Thermionic Converters- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
210600 - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable