THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW-WORK-FUNCTION COLLECTOR FOR THERMIONIC ENERGY CONVERTERS.

Abstract

The construction and evaluation of a unique device for studying collectors of thermionic converters operating in the Ball-of-Fire mode are described. The test vehicle contains one emitter and a rotating disc on which six collectors are mounted. Without disturbing the vacuum condition, each collector may in turn be brought adjacent to the emitter and the electrode combination can be operated as a converter. The emitter temperature, collector temperature, cesium reservoir temperature, and interelectrode spacing may all be independently varied and measured. Preliminary data for the first set of collectors evaluated in this device are presented indicating that arccast tungsten produces the highest power and polycrystaline molybdenum produces the highest voltage at the highest power. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 15, 1963
Accession Number
AD0429503

Entities

People

  • R. J. Hill
  • W. B. Hall

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accumulators
  • Construction
  • Converters
  • Electrodes
  • Molybdenum
  • Reservoirs
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Vehicles
  • Thermionic Converters
  • Tungsten
  • Vehicles
  • Work Functions

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster