Design of a core-length thermionic fuel element for electrical heating
- ThermoTrex Coporation, 85 First Avenue, P.O. Box 8995, Waltham, MA 02254-8995 (United States)
- General Atomics, 3550 General Atomics Court, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, CA 92186-9784 (United States)
- Wright Laboratories, WL/POOC-2, Wright Patternson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433-6563 (United States)
This paper describes the design of an electrically heated version of a core-length Thermionic Fuel Element (TFE) with advanced features, as is suggested by the designation Advanced Thermionic Inititative (ATI). The advanced features include a high-strength emitter structure to be fabricated by Space Power, Incorporated. This structure consists of a cylindrical emitter, 15 mm diameter and 254 mm long of Chemically Vapor Deposited (CVD) tungsten, reinforced with tungsten-hafnium carbide wire wound over a CVD tungsten core with additional CVD tungsten incorporating and bonding the wire into the emitter. The emitter surface is CVD tungsten, deposited from tungsten chloride resulting in the desirable crystal orientation of [l angle]110[r angle]. It is possible to design a reactor with core-length TFEs so that it can be electrically tested prior to fueling. The program is focussed on the design and fabrication of a single core-length TFE with current collection at both ends which will be tested in a reactor. In parallel with this effort is the design, fabrication, and testing of an unfueled, electrically heated prototype. The intent is to make the electrically heated converter as similar as possible to the fueled one, while providing for accurate emitter and collector temperature measurement.
- OSTI ID:
- 5658887
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930103--
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Vol. 271:3; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
300401* -- Thermionic Converters-- Design & Development
ALLOYS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC HEATING
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
FUEL ELEMENTS
HAFNIUM CARBIDES
HAFNIUM COMPOUNDS
HEATING
METALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NIOBIUM
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS
TESTING
THERMIONIC COLLECTORS
THERMIONIC EMITTERS
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN
TUNGSTEN ALLOYS