Accession Number:

AD0813424

Title:

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSULATED THERMIONIC CONVERTER-HEAT PIPE ASSEMBLY.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 16 Mar 66-15 Mar 67 on Phase 2,

Corporate Author:

RADIO CORP OF AMERICA LANCASTER PA ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND DEVICES

Personal Author(s):

• Harbaugh, Willis E.
• Gelhaus, Floyd E.
• Longsdorff, Richard W.

Report Date:

1967-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

87.0

Abstract:

This Summary Report details the investigations which demonstrated the practicality of joining thermionic modules to heat pipes for efficient long-life operation. Program effort culminated in the achievement of over 3000 hours of life test time for a Module-Heat Pipe, which maintained an average power output of 2.0 watts per square centimeter without degradation in performance. High-strength ceramic-to-metal seals were produced capable of ten thermal cycles from room temperature to 1000 C. Heat pipe design, fabrication and processing were modified as necessary for operation up to 1650 C. Heat pipe contamination problems were solved and improved methods developed for purification of the liquid cesium used in the converters. Several methods for the controlled oxygenation of the cesium used in converters were investigated and effective techniques were developed. Emitter insulation problems were solved by multiple testing procedures and layer thickness and processing of emitter insulation were optimized. A design was formulated for a high-voltage 28-volts dc multiple-converter module on a heat pipe. Author

Descriptors:

• THERMAL INSULATION
• HEAT TRANSFER
• SEALS(STOPPERS)
• CONTAMINATION
• OXYGEN

Subject Categories:

• Electric Power Production and Distribution

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE