THE PERFORMANCE OF RUTHENIUM AS AN ELECTRODE IN A THERMIONIC CONVERTER,
Abstract
Ruthenium, a material having relatively low adsorption cross section in both thermal and epithermal regions of the neutron spectra, was investigated as an emitter and as a collector in a thermionic converter. Both hot pressed and plasma sprayed ruthenium emitters behave like high vacuum work function materials, i.e., display high output current density at relatively low cesium pressures. Significant differences are noted, however, in the performance of the two ruthenium emitters prepared by the different processes. The performance is compared to that of iridium and rhenium, the ruthenium showing generally a higher output power density, particularly at moderate (10 to 30 mil) values of interelectrode gap. A plasma sprayed ruthenium collector assumes its optimum at a temperature approximately 100 K lower than that for a molybdenum collector, the value of collector work function at optimum being the same, within the limits of experimental uncertainty, for the two materials. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0465704
Entities
People
- A. J. Kennedy
- D. S. Trimmer
Organizations
- Glenn L. Martin Company