Design and fabrication of a novel four cell cylindrically inverted multi‐cell (CIM) solar thermionic converter for space power applications is in progress. When heated externally, the converter (8 cm diameter and 35 cm long) is capable of producing up to 492 W of electric power. The emitters operate at 2000 K while the collectors operate at 1050 K. Key components include four polycrystalline rhenium (Re) emitters, a cesium (Cs) containment vessel, and a collector trilayer. The emitters and containment vessel are both made from Re tubing. Hot Isostatic press (HIP) processing is used to produce the collector trilayer which is made up of a niobium alloy (Nb‐1%Zr) base tube, plasma sprayed aluminum oxide insulation layer, and a niobium collector tube. After machining the Re emitters are brazed to the Nb collectors. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and fabrication of the four cell CIM which will be tested at General Atomics (GA).
Cylindrical Inverted Multi‐Cell (CIM) Thermionic Converter for Solar Power and Propulsion Systems
SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INT.FORUM-STAIF 2005: Conf.Thermophys in Micrograv;Conf Comm/Civil Next Gen.Space Transp; 22nd Symp Space Nucl.Powr Propuls.;Conf.Human/Robotic Techn.Nat'l Vision Space Expl.; 3rd Symp Space Colon.; 2nd Symp.New Frontiers ; 2005 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 746 , 1 ; 926-934
2005-02-06
9 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Cylindrical Inverted Multi-Cell (CIM) Thermionic Converter for Solar Power and Propulsion Systems
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