Accession Number:

AD0294000

Title:

PHOTOEMISSIVE ENERGY CONVERSION APPLIED RESEARCH PROGRAM

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP BALTIMORE MD

Personal Author(s):

• LIMANSKY,IGOR
• WOOD,E.F.
• JENSEN,A.S.

Report Date:

1962-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

1.0

Abstract:

THE FEASIBILITY WAS STUDIED OF MAKING A CLOSESPACED, GLASS-SANDWICH PHOTOEMISSIVE SOLAR POWER CONVERTER. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE OPERABLE SEALED-OFF CONVERTERS IN THE LABORATORY DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF SEALING WITHIN A VACUUM SYSTEM AND THE PARTICULAR CONFIGURATION OF THE DEVICE GIVING A LARGE VALUE OF SURFACE-TOVOLUME RATIO. THE REQUIREMENT OF A LOW WORKFUNCTION SURVACE FOR THE ANODE WAS VERIFIED BY A TEST INVOLVING CHANGING THE INTERELECTRODE SPACING OF A CONVERTER IN SITU WITHIN THE PROCESSING SYSTEM. CONVERTER ACTION WAS OBTAINED WITH A SPACING OVER AN INCH, BUT DECREASED WITH SPACING. IT WAS NOTED THAT AT CLOSER SPACINGS THE OUTPUT POWER INCREASES AND THE INTERNAL RESISTANCE DECREASES. CONSIDERATION OF THE SUBSEQUENT INVENTION AND DEMONSTRATION OF THE CADMIUM SULPHIDE SOLAR POWER CONVERTER AT RELATIVELYHIGH CONVERSION EFFICIENCIES AND IN A THIN, FLEXIBLE, POLYCRYSTALLINE FILM FORM LEADS TO THE CONCLUSTION THAT THE PHOTOEMISSIVE CONVERTER IS NO LONGER COMPETITIVE

Descriptors:

• *POWER SUPPLIES
• ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
• ENERGY CONVERSION
• FEASIBILITY STUDIES
• PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
• SOLAR RADIATION
• THEORY

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE