An overview of advanced cesium reservoir technology

Conference · Wed Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1993 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43022· OSTI ID:6532372

Lamp, T R ^[1]

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1. Aerospace Power Division, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433 (United States)

The cesium reservoir is a critical component pacing development of a long life thermionic power system. A variety of cesium reservoirs have been researched during the existence of thermionics technology. Cesium is the ionization medium of choice and reservoir research is directed at containing and controlling this material. Historically, reservoirs of interest have included porous tungsten, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), charcoal, POCO graphite, binary compounds, and gas buffered reservoirs. Russian researchers are also working on a variety of reservoirs and cesiation techniques which are generically referred to as interelectrode medium maintenance systems. Russian work follows the general thrust of US work (heat pipe based concepts, graphite reservoir concepts, and chemical compounds of cesium.) This paper discusses the merits of several of these cesiation techniques which are in various stages of development in the United States. Russian work will be addressed only as a matter of historical record.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-86SF16298
• OSTI ID: 6532372
• Report Number(s): CONF-930103--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Journal Volume: 271:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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