A 1.5 Mwe Thermionic Reactor Space Power System Page: 4 of 30
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UNCLASSIFIED
A 1.5 MWE THERMIONIC REACTOR
SPACE POWER SYSTEM
C. K. Smith and R. Y. Parkinson
Atomics International
A Division of North American Aviation, Inc.
Canoga Park, California
The objective of this paper is to indicate the performance
potential of nuclear reactor space power system concepts employ-
ing direct-nuclear-heated thermionic converters within the reactor
fuel elements. Such systems possess relatively fixed character-
istics over the range from several hundred kilowatts to several
megawatts electric output; the 1.5 Mwe system characteristics
described here are typical.
As an introduction for those not familiar with the thermionic
means of direct energy conversion, Figure 1 is a schematic
showing the essential components of the cesium vapor diode con-
verter.
The thermionic converter is a device in which heat is con-
verted to electrical energy by direct thermal excitation of charged
particles at the surface of an electrode. Energy conversion occurs
by vaporization of electrons from a hot electron reservoir, called
the cathode or emitter electrode, and subsequent condensation of
those electrons into a colder electrode at higher potential, called
the anode or collector electrode. The thermionic conversion pro-
cess thus resembles that in a vapor cycle heat engine, with elec-
trons as the working fluid.
Provision must be made to neutralize the negatively charged
electron gas, otherwise its presence in the interelectrode space
will inhibit further electron emission. In the cesium vapor con-
verter, positive ions are generated for this purpose by thermal
1UNCLASSIFIED
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Smith, C. K. & Parkinson, R. Y. A 1.5 Mwe Thermionic Reactor Space Power System, report, October 31, 1966; Canoga Park, California. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1027582/m1/4/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.