Thermionic reactor module with thermal-storage reservoir
A thermionic energy conversion system assembly is described, which comprises a fissionable nuclear fuel that surrounds a cylindrical arrangement of thermionic-emitter electrodes that surround corresponding collector electrodes, which in turn surround a cylindrical container of a heat-sink material such as lithium hydride, which can absorb large amounts of waste heat energy through a phase change. The heat-sink material may also act as a nuclear moderator to reduce the amount of required nuclear fuel. A heat pipe is enclosed within the container of heat-sink material to remove waste heat stored in the material. A thermionic energy-conversion module is described which comprises 100 stacked-in-series thermionic-converter assemblies. A complete space-based thermionic nuclear reactor is described which comprises an array of 91 thermionic-converter modules wherein the heat pipes connect to a lithium hydride radiation shield which acts as a further heat sink. The radiation shield connects to radiators to remove the waste heat to space.
- Research Organization:
- Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC (USA)
- Assignee:
- Dept. of the Air Force, Washington, DC
- Patent Number(s):
- None
- OSTI ID:
- 5804203
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
300401* -- Thermionic Converters-- Design & Development
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT SINKS
HEAT STORAGE
HEAT TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POWER REACTORS
POWER SUPPLIES
REACTORS
SINKS
STORAGE
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
THERMIONIC REACTORS