HIGH-TEMPERATURE VAPOR-FILLED THERMIONIC CONVERTER
Abstract
Filament failure and power degradation forced discontinuation of some of the testing. Post operative analysis revealed that the remaining emitter thermocouple had maintained its calibration and that vacuum emission currents were at least equal to the pre-lifetest values at high emitter temperature but exceeded the pre-life test values at lower emitter temperatures. A large leak was found in the emitter cavity, which explained the loss of cesium and the resulting power degradation as well as the erosion of the filament and filament holder. Chemical analysis of the emitter showed a loss of about 75% of the uranium. A structure risk in tantalum carbide had formed at the tantalum carbide interface and had penetrated the entire tantalum substrate. A theoretical study of cell contamination by fission products revealed that the fate of any one of the many elements may differ widely from that of others. The noble gases krypton and xenon presumably will have the least detrimental effect in a vented system. The electronegative fission products tend to combine with the cesium to some extent. Since the cesium reservoir will be at the lowest temperature in the cell, most of the condensates of the fission products should collect there. The remaining fission products will condense on the various components of the cell.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 17, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0406325
Entities
People
- R. Skoff
- W. Godsin
Organizations
- General Dynamics