Design and operation of a thermionic converter in air

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:57642

Horner, M H; Begg, L L; Smith, Jr, J N ^[1]; Geller, C B; Kallnowski, J E ^[2]

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1. General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
2. Westinghouse Electric Corp., West Mifflin, PA (United States). Bettis Atomic Power Lab.

An electrically heated thermionic converter has been designed, built and successfully tested in air. Several unique features were incorporated in this converter: an integral cesium reservoir, innovative ceramic-to-metal seals, a heat rejection system coupling the collector to a low temperature heat sink and an innovative cylindrical heater filament. The converter was operated for extended periods of time with the emitter at about 1900 K. the collector at about 700 K, and a power density of over 2 w(e)/sq. cm. Input power transients were run between 50% and 100% thermal power, at up to 1% per second, without instabilities in performance.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., West Mifflin, PA (United States). Bettis Atomic Power Lab.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC11-93PN38195
• OSTI ID: 57642
• Report Number(s): WAPD-T--3062; CONF-950729--2; ON: DE95010151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DESIGN
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
THERMIONIC EMITTERS
TRANSIENTS