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High-temperature, high-power-density thermionic energy conversion for space
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Morris, J. F. |
| Copyright Year | 1977 |
| Description | Theoretic converter outputs and efficiencies indicate the need to consider thermionic energy conversion (TEC) with greater power densities and higher temperatures within reasonable limits for space missions. Converter-output power density, voltage, and efficiency as functions of current density were determined for 1400-to-2000 K emitters with 725-to-1000 K collectors. The results encourage utilization of TEC with hotter-than-1650 K emitters and greater-than-6W sq cm outputs to attain better efficiencies, greater voltages, and higher waste-heat-rejection temperatures for multihundred-kilowatt space-power applications. For example, 1800 K, 30 A sq cm TEC operation for NEP compared with the 1650 K, 5 A/sq cm case should allow much lower radiation weights, substantially fewer and/or smaller emitter heat pipes, significantly reduced reactor and shield-related weights, many fewer converters and associated current-collecting bus bars, less power conditioning, and lower transmission losses. Integration of these effects should yield considerably reduced NEP specific weights. |
| File Size | 3417209 |
| Page Count | 17 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19780005947 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t90912h85 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1977-11-23 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Plasma Physics Thermionic Power Generation Heat Pipes Solar Electric Propulsion Nuclear Electric Propulsion High Temperature Nuclear Reactors Current Density Aerospace Engineering Chemical Propulsion Spacecraft Propulsion Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Technical Report |
