Evaluation of a thermionic energy converter using film-boiling liquid metal /
A. J. Ulrich.

Description

Main Author

Ulrich, A. J.

Related Names

U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Argonne National Laboratory. Reactor Physics Division.

Language(s)

English

Published

Lemont, Ill. : Argonne National Laboratory, Reactor Physics Division, 1965.

Subjects

Film boiling.
Liquid metals.
Thermionic converters.
Energy conversion.

Summary

In an experiment, it is found that stable film boiling occurs for ranges of emitter temperatures and of cesium and potassium vapor pressures which are appropriate for thermionic diodes.
The conventional plasma thermocouple or thermionic energy-conversion diode has a solid-metal electron collector. In this report, a thermionic energy-conversion diode is evaluated which uses a liquid metal as the electron collector. Liquids such as cesium, rubidium, or potassium and their alloys, are separated from the hot emitter by the vapor film produced in film boiling. Such a vapor film would maintain electrical separation if the emitter became warp due to radiation damage, thus greatly improving the reliability of the in-core thermionic diode.

Note

Reactor Physics Division, ANL.
Operated by the University of Chicago under Contract W-31-109-Eng-38 for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
"May 1965."

Physical Description

25 p. : charts ; 28 cm.

Locate a Print Version

Find in a library

Viewability