RESEARCH ON THERMIONIC CONVERTERS

Abstract

Thermionic conversion involves the generation of electricity from thermal energy utilizing the phenomenon of thermionic emission of electrons, and requires no moving parts. Three basically different types of converters were the subjects of wide study: (1) vacuum converters which have now been developed to the product design stage for cathode temperatures in the range of 1100 to 1150 C, anode temperatures 600 to 700 C and electrical power outputs of 0.2 watt/ sq cm (min.) at an efficiency o 2.5%; (2) vapor converters which have been are developed for solar space power with an efficiency of 15% at a cathode temperature of 1800 C; and (3) crossed-field converters which utilize a combination of electric and magnetic fields to direct the electron flow from cathode to anode in the converter. This particular line of development did not appear to be fruitful, and further work was not recommended on the crossed-field approach. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0259880

Entities

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Conversion
  • Converters
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Efficiency
  • Electricity
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Thermionic Converters
  • Thermionic Emission

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster