Cesium static-pressure drop in cylindrical thermionic converters

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Sov. Tech. Phys. Lett. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:7353558

Tskhakaya, V K; Yarygin, V I

In the many problems that arise in physical investigations of thermionic converters it is necessary to measure the cesium static pressure drop along working sections of cylindrical electrodes. The static pressure drop of the filling material can be established either from the self magnetic field of the converter, or from the flow of the filler in the interelectrode space, etc. Pickups for the measurement of the static pressure drop of cesium should satisfy the following requirements: (1) simplicity and reliability at large thermal fluxes, compatibility with the experimental instrument (the thermionic converter); (2) the high speed of operation of the pickup should make it possible to carry out the investigation of the transient processes connected with establishment and the restructuring of the cesium pressure gradient; (3) the range of the measured pressure drops should be approximately 10/sup -2/ to 1 torr at equilibrium cesium pressures from 10/sup -1/ to 10 torr. A direct method of measuring the static pressure drop of the cesium along the working section of a cylindrical thermionic converter is described based on the change in the work function of the pickup electrodes when the degree of coating is changed as a function of the cesium pressure. (WHK)

• OSTI ID: 7353558
• Journal Information: Sov. Tech. Phys. Lett. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Tech. Phys. Lett. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 1:1; ISSN STPLD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300401* -- Thermionic Converters-- Design & Development
ALKALI METALS
CESIUM
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
METALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRESSURE DROP
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
VAPOR PRESSURE