PARAMETRIC STUDY OF DIRECT CONVERSION REACTOR POWER SYSTEMS
Abstract
A mathematical formulation of thermionic-cell dynamics for use in thermionic reactor design is developed. The formulation developed was incorporated into a digital computer code. This code was used in conjunction with neutronicsAND HEAT TRANSFER CALCULATIONS TO INVESTIGATE THE INTERRELATED THERMIONIC-NEUTRONIC-HEATTRANSFER PROBLEMS OF THERMIONIC REACTOR DESIGN. Two main problem areas in the nuclear design of water-cooled thermionic reactors, i.e., the inherently large parasitic capture in thermionic cells and the power-flattening problem, are discussed. In order to define the problems that might arise in the design of an actual thermionic reactor plant, a conceptual design study of a 1-Mw(e) water-cooled thermionic reactor system was undertaken. Tungsten-clad emitters were purposely used in this study in order to evaluate the suitability of using materials with very high parasitic capture rates in a water-cooled system. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0289540
Entities
People
- W.b. Jr. Wright
Organizations
- General Dynamics