Theories on plasma arc-drop in thermionic energy converters. Final report on thermionics energy conversion research analysis
A summary of the theoretical developments of the problem of plasma arc-drop in thermionic energy converters carried out during 1976 to 1982 at Princeton University is presented. It reviews the basic formulation of the isothermal model which delineates the physical origin of the arc-drop, its order of magnitude and the possibilities of arc-drop reduction under one-dimensional, steady-state, ignited-mode operation, and also the generalization of the isothermal model to the non-isothermal model. The possibility of a heat-to-laser energy recombination laser using a thermionic diode operating in the unsteady mode is discussed. An analysis of the low-current regime with attentions focussed on the effects of ion reflections and trapped-ions effects in the emitter sheath is presented.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76ET15352
- OSTI ID:
- 6456254
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ET/15352-14; ON: DE83010040
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300401* -- Thermionic Converters-- Design & Development
ALKALI METALS
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
CESIUM
CURRENTS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIODE TUBES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
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IONIZATION
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METALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
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THERMIONIC TUBES
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300401* -- Thermionic Converters-- Design & Development
ALKALI METALS
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
CESIUM
CURRENTS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIODE TUBES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRON TUBES
ELEMENTS
EQUATIONS
FUNCTIONS
IONIZATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA SHEATH
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
THERMIONIC DIODES
THERMIONIC TUBES
VOLTAGE DROP
WORK FUNCTIONS