INVESTIGATIONS ON THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF NUCLEAR FISSION ENERGY TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN A PLASMA DIODE.
Abstract
Reaction kinetics and electron transport were studied in noble gas plasmas generated by fission fragment ionization in order to evaluate these plasmas for a nuclear thermionic energy converter. The electron density that would result from fission fragment ionization of Ar-Cs and Ne-Ar gas mixtures was predicted from the computed ion generation rate and ion loss processes in the plasma. The first experimental verification of the electron density was made with a resonant microwave cavity operated inpile. The electron transport properties of these plasmas are being investigated theoretically and a ceramic-metal diode with a nuclear thermionic emitter has been developed for inpile measurement of the electron transport properties. Analytical solutions have been obtained for the current-voltage characteristic of a thermionic diode in which the plasma is generated by uniform fission-fragment ionization and the electron density is controlled by ambipolar diffusion loss. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0475633
Entities
People
- Charles B. Leffert
- David B. Rees
- Fay E. Gifford