Thermionic converter plasma analysis. Final report Jan 71--Apr 72

Technical Report · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1972

OSTI ID:7314028

McCandless, R J

This study develops an analysis of thermionic converter sheaths and weakly collisional thermionic converter plasmas. The analysis of thermionic converter sheaths is accomplished through the numerical solution of Poisson's equation and the Vlasov equations for electrons and ions in one dimensional planar geometry subject to half Maxwellian boundary conditions. The analysis considers monotonic accelerating and retarding sheaths and the class of non-monotonic sheaths with a single potential extremum. The results show that some thermionic converter operating points simultaneously admit self consistent monotonic and non-monotonic sheath potential profiles. The analysis of weakly collisional thermionic plasma is accomplished through the numerical solution of a set of plasma transport equations and Poisson's equation in one dimensional planar geometry subject to the known boundary conditions on the electron and ion distribution functions for charged particle emission at the emitter and collector surfaces for a given set of thermionic converter operating conditions. The converter operating condition is specified by the emitter temperature, collector temperature, reservoir temperature, interelectrode spacing, and operating current. The transport equations are derived as a set of moment equations from the Boltzmann equations for electrons and ions. The movement equations conserve mass, momentum, energy and energy flux.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Pleasanton, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7314028
• Report Number(s): AD-903664
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300401* -- Thermionic Converters-- Design & Development
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
IONS
LEPTONS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA
PLASMA SHEATH
POISSON EQUATION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS