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Gunther, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Gunther, B..

4 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Performance tests of a thermionic converter with an oxygenated cesium reservoir

Cesium oxide/cesium solutions as a possible source of oxygen and cesium are investigated. A converter-reservoir system which allows multiple additions of oxygen with intervening thermionic performance tests was developed. The experimental data cover the cesium oxide mole fraction range of 0 to 0.018 with thermionic performance measurements in the emitter temperature range of 1600 to 1900 K. The data showed that the thermionic performance was unaffected by the presence of cesium oxide in this mole fraction range and higher mole fractions appear to be required for the proper oxygen arrival rate at the emitter surface.

Gunther, B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cesium oxide-cesium solution as a source of cesium and oxygen.

Examination of the feasibility of using the solution as a source of cesium and oxygen, with description of an experimental system designed for a systematic investigation. Preliminary data are presented. Thermionic performance of the converter was recorded before the injection of oxygen at emitter temperatures of 1600, 1700, 1800, and 1900 K. The power of this converter, which had a polycrystalline tungsten emitter and a polycrystalline molybdenum collector, is compared with other converters. Experimental results show that cesium oxide mole factors higher than 0.18 are needed to achieve oxygen effects. It appears not to be necessary to be concerned about avoiding oxygen impurities in the cesium reservoir, since mole fractions as high as 0.18 have failed to influence the performance.

Gunther, B.↗