RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EVALUATION PROGRAM TO DEMONSTRATE PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY OF THERMIONIC DIODE CONVERTERS FOR NAVAL NUCLEAR REACTORS.
Abstract
Efforts were continued on a program to determine life and reliability of a thermionic energy converter designed for operation in a thermal reactor, and to refine the converter design to eliminate causes of failure. Design modifications to permit the inclusion of a fuel sleeve in the emitter of the A-1272 were made, and other modifications to improve converter performance were completed. High-stress and parametric tests were conducted. Detailed fabrication procedures were perfected. A system was established for recording all significant dimensions of converter components during fabrication; these data will be used to determine the extent of structural changes occuring throughout converter life. Twelve converters were tested for high-stress and performance limits, 4 were subjected to extensive life tests and one to preliminary life testing. The four converters, without nuclear fuel, have operated for a total of 1248 hours on life test without failure. The first fueled converter failed during initial tests as a result of a thermal short caused by the evaporation of fuel onto heater parts. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0432063