Effects of emitter sheath ion reflection and trapped ions on thermionic converter performance using an isothermal electron model

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.1987.4316706· OSTI ID:6383468

Main, G L; Lam, S H

This paper couples exact collisionless sheath calculations to an isothermal electron model of a thermionic converter. The emitter sheath structure takes into account reflected ions, trapped ions, and surface emission ions. It is shown that lessening the net loss of ions at the emitter in the ignited mode by these phenomena degrades performance. In addition, it is shown that when the emitter returns too many of the ions, the arc is extinguished because there is insufficient resistive heating to maintain the necessary plasma electron temperature for ionization. These results suggest that the ignited mode cannot be improved much. However, nonignited modes in which the electron temperature remains low, such as the pulsed mode, do not suffer from this adverse behavior.

• Research Organization: School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
• OSTI ID: 6383468
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States) Journal Issue: 3 Vol. PS-15:3; ISSN ITPSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300402* -- Thermionic Converters-- Performance & Testing
CALCULATION METHODS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
IONIZATION
IONS
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
LEPTONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA
PLASMA SHEATH
PULSES
REFLECTION
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
THERMIONIC EMITTERS
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
TRAPPING