SP-100 thermionic technology program annual integrated technical progress report for the period ending September 30, 1984
- ed.
The thermionic technology program addresses the feasibility issues of a seven-year-life thermionic fuel element (TFE) for the SP-100 Thermionic Reactor Space Power System. These issues relate to the extension of TFE lifetime from three to seven years, one of the SP-100 requirements. The technology to support three-year lifetimes was demonstrated in the earlier TFE development program conducted in the late-1960s and 1970s. Primary life-limiting factors were recognized to be thermionic emitter dimensional increases due to swelling of the nuclear fuel and electrical structural damage from fast neutrons. The 1984-85 technology program is investigating the fueled emitter and insulator lifetime issues, both experimentally and analytically. The goal is to analytically project the lifetime of the fueled emitter and insulator and to experimentally verify these projection methods. In 1984, the efforts were largely devoted to the design and building of fueled emitters for irradiation in 1985, validation of fuel-emitter models, development of irradiation-resistant metal-ceramic seal and sheath insulator, modeling of insulator lifetime, and development of wide-spread, high-performance thermionic converters.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-84SF11906; AC03-84SF12192; AC03-84SF12193
- OSTI ID:
- 5682006
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A-17773; ON: DE85012311
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
LIFETIME
PERFORMANCE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SEALS
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
FUEL ELEMENTS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
300400 - Thermionic Converters