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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Surface studies of thermionic cathodes and the mechanism of operation of an impregnated tungsten cathode

The surface properties of conventional impregnated cathodes were investigated by the use of Auger spectroscopy and work function measurements, and these were compared with a synthesized barium or barium oxide coated tungsten surface. The barium and barium oxide coated surfaces were prepared by evaporating barium onto a tungsten surface that can be heated to elevated temperatures. Multilayer or monolayer coverages can be investigated using this technique. The results of this study show that the surface of an impregnated tungsten cathode is identical to that observed for a synthesized monolayer or partial monolayer of barium on partially oxidized tungsten, using the criteria of identical Auger patterns and work functions. Desorption measurements of barium from a tungsten surface were also made. These results in conjunction with Auger and work function data were interpreted to show that throughout most of its life an impregnated cathode operating in the range of 1100 C has a partial monolayer rather than a monolayer of barium on its surface.

Forman, R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Advanced thermionic energy conversion: Joint highlights

A theoretical model was used to study the effects of structured electrodes on converter I-V characteristics and results are given. An auxiliary-ion-source triode operated as a plasmatron was used for studying the enhancement distribution and magnetic effects, and results are reported. Design features of the high current-zero power (ZEPO) converter tests are given.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1976

The plasmatron: Advanced mode thermionic energy conversion

A theory of the plasmatron was developed. Also, a wide range of measurements were obtained with two versatile, research devices. To gain insight into plasmatron performance, the experimental results are compared with calculations based on the theoretical model of plasmatron operation. Results are presented which show that the plasma arc drop of the conventional arc (ignited) mode converter can be suppressed by use of an auxiliary ion source. The improved performance, however, is presently limited to low current densities because of voltage losses due to plasma resistance. This resistance loss could be suppressed by an increase in the plasma electron temperature or a decrease in spacing. Plasmatron performance characteristics for both argon and cesium are reported. The argon plasmatron has superior performance. Results are also presented for magnetic cutoff effects and for current distributing effects. These are shown to be important factors for the design of practical devices.

Hansen, L. K.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Use of Auger spectroscopy in the evaluation of thermionic cathodes

Auger spectroscopy has been used to evaluate the properties of 'good' and 'poor' impregnated tungsten cathodes used in high-power microwave wave tubes. The results were interpreted to analyze failure modes in cathodes removed from TWT's because of poor emission characteristics. Most of the poor cathodes evaluated in this program were obtained from fabricated electron guns that had been employed and discarded from the 200-W TWT tubes developed for the Communication Technology Satellite program. The results of these measurements have shown there are at least two types of failure modes that one observes with poor cathodes. They are (1) chemical contamination of the cathode surface and (2) low partial layer barium coverage of the cathode surface.

Forman, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Low arc drop hybrid mode thermionic converter

The hybrid mode operation for the reduction of plasma drops is being investigated. This report discusses the results obtained from two molybdenum emitter converters. One converter had a molybdenum collector and the other a nickel collector. The molybdenum collector converter was operated in a hybrid mode (at an interelectrode distance of 1.7 mm) and produced a minimum barrier index of 1.96 eV at an emitter temperature of 1500 K. The arc drop was calculated to be 0.14 eV, using the published results for a molybdenum collector. On the other hand, the nickel collector converter was operated in a conventional ignited mode (at an interelectrode distance of 0.5 mm) and produced a minimum barrier index of 2.1 eV at an emitter temperature of 1700 K. It is tentatively concluded that a large-gap operation of the hybrid mode converter permits the diffusion of cesium ions to a distance in the order of one millimeter for an effective neutralization of electron space charge. By employing a low work function collector (1.55 eV) in a hybrid mode converter with an arc drop of 0.14 eV, it appears that a barrier index as low as 1.69 eV could be achieved.

Shimada, K.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Change in the thermionic work function of semiconductor powders exposed to electromagnetic radiation

The variations of the thermoelectronic work function of titanium dioxide, submitted to an ultraviolet or visible and infrared radiation, in the presence of oxygen, are studied by the vibrating condenser method. It is shown that during the ultraviolet irradiation, a desorption of a first species of oxygen simultaneously occurs with the adsorption of a second species of oxygen and that this phenomenon is found for any structure of TiO2 (anatase or rutile) any texture, oxygen pressure, radiation intensity, and nature of introduced dopes.

Bourasseau, S.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Variation in the thermionic work function of semiconductor powders exposed to electromagnetic radiation

The study of the variation of thermoelectronic work function potential of TiO2 in the presence of isobutane shows that this gas is not adsorbed on this solid, in either the presence or the absence of ultraviolet radiation. These results, as well as those obtained in a previous work, lead to the mechanism of the photo-oxidation of isobutane at room temperature, in which excited atomic oxygen is the active species.

Bourasseau, S.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Advanced Thermionic Technology Program

Topics include surface studies (surface theory, basic surface experiments, and activation chamber experiments); plasma studies (converter theory and enhanced mode conversion experiments); and component development (low temperature conversion experiments, high efficiency conversion experiments, and hot shell development).

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NASA NTRS1978

Some properties of low-vapor-pressure braze alloys for thermionic converters

Property measurements were made for arc-melted, rod-shaped specimens. Density and dc electrical resistivity at 296 K were measured for various binary eutectic alloys. Thermal conductivity was inferred from the electrical conductivity using the Wiedemann, Franz, Lorenz relation. Linear thermal expansion from 293 K to two-thirds melting point, under a helium atmosphere, was measured for Zr, 21.7-wt percent Ru; Zr, 13-wt percent W; Zr, 22.3-wt percent Nb; Nb, 66.9-wt percent Ru; and Zr, 25.7-wt percent Ta.

Bair, V. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

ERDA/NASA advanced thermionic technology program

Research progress is briefly outlined in the areas of activation experiments, enchanced mode conversion experiments, converter development (tungsten emitter, lanthanum hexaborate collector), and hot shell development.

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NASA NTRS1978

Power Coupling Alternatives for the NEP Thermionic Power System

Three output power coupling methods which can eliminate the high temperature insulator from the Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) power system are described and estimates of their effects on the NEP system masses and cooling requirements are presented. Nominal 400 kWe power systems using push-pull and flux reset inductive output coupling are shown to have specific masses of 22.2 kg/kWe and 18.8 kg/kWe, respectively. Series connected heat pipe systems, which use the heat pipe-to-heat pipe resistance to isolate converters on adjacent heat pipes, are shown to have specific masses 0.5 to 1.4 kg/kWe lower than the NEP baseline system. Increasing the number and temperature of the heat pipes in the system without changing the electric output reduces the calculated system specific mass only slightly, whereas increasing the output power significantly reduces the specific mass. Estimates of cooling requirements indicate that 11-45 sq m of power conditioning radiator are needed. A possible location for the power conditioning radiator may be in the present location of the kapton sputter shield.

Manda, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Thermionic cathode life test studies

An update on the life testing of commerical, high current density impregnated tungsten cathodes is presented. The B-type cathodes, operated at a current density of 2 A/cm2 and a cathode temperature of 1100 C have now been run satisfactorily for more than four years. The M-cathode, at the same current density but at an operating temperature of only 1010 C, have been tested for more than three years. The M-cathodes show no degradation in current over their present operating life whereas the current from the B-cathodes degrade about 6 percent after four years of operation.

Forman, R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Analytical investigation of efficiency and performance limits in klystron amplifiers using multidimensional computer programs; multi-stage depressed collectors; and thermionic cathode life studies

An extensive parametric investigation was performed of the extraction of energy in output gaps of klystron amplifiers, using 3-D computer programs. Due to complexity of the program which used a hydrodynamic, axially and radially deformable disk ring model and the resulting long computing time, the investigation was limited to the output gap, by far the most important and difficult part of the klystron interaction. Results show that, for a confined flow focused beam throughout the penultimate cavity, radial velocities remain very small and the beam is highly laminar. It was, therefore, concluded that possible errors resulting from treating only the output cavity in 3-D would remain small.

Kosmahl, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Analytic investigation of efficiency and performance limits in klystron amplifiers using multidimensional computer programs; multi-stage depressed collectors; and thermionic cathode life studies

Due to complexity of the program which used a hydrodynamic, axially and radially deformable disk-ring model and the resulting long computing time only the output gap was investigated. Results from independent studies were used to initiate the starting conditions for the electrons and the RF voltage using our program. Although this method of computation is less exact than processing the entire klystron interaction in 3-Dimensions it is shown that, for a confined flow focused throughout the penultimate cavity, radial velocities remain very small and the beam is highly laminar. It is concluded that possible errors resulting from treating only the output cavity in 3-D would remain small.

Kosmahl, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

DOE/JPL advanced thermionic technology program

Accomplishments in the DOE program include: continuing stable output from the combustion life test of the one-inch diameter hemispherical silicon carbine diode (Converter No. 239) at an emitter temperature of 1730 K for a period of over 4200 hours; construction of four diode module completed; favorable results obtained from TAM combustor-gas turbine system analyses; and obtained a FERP work function of 2.3 eV with the W(100)-O-Zr-C electrode. JPL program accomplishments include: the average minimum barrier index of the last six research diodes built with sublimed molybdenum oxide collectors was 20 eV (WHK).

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1985

Thermionic noise measurements for on-line dispenser cathode diagnostics for linear beam microwave tubes

A test stand has been set up to measure the current fluctuation noise properties of B- and M-type dispenser cathodes in a typical TWT gun structure. Noise techniques were used to determine the work function distribution on the cathode surfaces. Significant differences between the B and M types and significant changes in the work function distribution during activation and life are found. In turn, knowledge of the expected work function can be used to accurately determine the cathode-operating temperatures in a TWT structure. Noise measurements also demonstrate more sensitivity to space charge effects than the Miram method. Full automation of the measurements and computations is now required to speed up data acquisition and reduction. The complete set of equations for the space charge limited diode were programmed so that given four of the five measurable variables (J, J sub O, T, D, and V) the fifth could be computed. Using this program, we estimated that an rms fluctuation in the diode spacing d in the frequency range of 145 Hz about 20 kHz of only about 10 to the -5 power A would account for the observed noise in a space charge limited diode with 1 mm spacing.

Holland, C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Atmospheric reentry of the in-core thermionic SP-100 reactor system

Presumed end-of-life atmospheric reentry of the GA SP-100 system was studied to assess dispersal feasibility and associated hazards. Reentry was studied by sequential use of an orbital trajectory and a heat analysis computer program. Two heating models were used. The first model assumed a thermal equilibrium condition between the stagnation point aerodynamic heating and the radiative cooling of the skin material surface. The second model allowed for infinite conductivity of the skin material. Four reentering configurations were studied representing stages of increased SP-100 breakup: (1) radiator, shield and reactor, (2) shield and reactor, (3) reactor with control drums, and (4) reactor without control drums. Each reentering configuration was started from a circular orbit at 116 km having an inertial velocity near Mach 25. The assumed failing criterion was the attainment of melting temperature of a critical system component. The reentry analysis revealed breakup of the vessel in the neighborhood of 61 km altitude and scattering of the fuel elements. Subsequent breakup of the fuel elements was not predicted. Oxidation of the niobium skin material was calculated to cause an increase in surface temperature of less than ten percent. The concept of thermite analogs for enhancing reactor reentry dispersal was assessed and found to be feasible in principle. A conservative worst-case hazards analysis was performed for radioactive and nonradioactive toxic SP-100 materials assumed to be dispersed during end-of-life reentry. The hazards associated with this phase of the SP-100 mission were calculated to be insignificant.

Stamatelatos, M. G.↗