Abstract
Experimental and theoretical investigations were made on several aspects of the cesium plasma thermionic converter. Data were taken on the electron emission properties of tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, rhenium, iridium, and tantalum carbide. Two methods were used in this study; one was the measurement of the I-V characteristics of diodes using eminers of these materials and the other was the direct measurement of the saturation emission current density by the plasma-anode technique. It is possible to make some separatiom between emission effects and transport effects by combining results of these two measurements. Studies were made on several important loss mechanisms in the thermionic converter. Among these were the thermal conduction loss in the cesium vapor, losses associated with electron scattering in the plasma, and losses due to reflection of electrons by the collector. A study was also made of the evaporative loss of the emitter in the presence of cesium. The experimental data collected has been used for an extensive theoretical analysis of the efficiency and lifetime of a thermionic converter. Theoretical treatments are also given for energy and mass transfer in the cesium plasma and of electron emission in the presence of a plasma. (auth)
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