THERMIONIC REACTOR RELIABILITY

Abstract

Thermionic converter network reliability is determined as a function of the network electrical configuration and the converter reliability. The study shows that the most reliable configuration is the matrix type of network, with series-connected converters cross-connected in parallel between converters so that an alternate path for electrical current is provided in the event of an open-circuit failure. It was found that with an optimized cross-connector, the most reliable matrix has about three times as many cells in series as in parallel, which conveniently coincides with the advantage of high voltage production. By supplying a small amount of redundant power to the network at the beginning of operation, matrix reliabilities can be orders of magnitude higher than the reliability of the converters. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 28, 1965
Accession Number
AD0620511

Entities

People

  • J. W. Holland

Organizations

  • General Dynamics

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Circuits
  • Computer Programs
  • Connectors
  • Contracts
  • Converters
  • Dynamics
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • High Reliability
  • High Voltage
  • Life Tests
  • Networks
  • Probability
  • Production
  • Quality Control
  • Reliability
  • Short Circuits
  • Thermionic Converters

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electronics Engineering
  • Inertial Navigation Systems.