Conclusions
The ÉS-6-3 six-element thermionic assembly has been tested in a reactor for 2670 h. During the tests the electrical power of the assembly decreased from 550 W, corresponding to a specific power of ∼7 W/cm2, to 75 W. A stepwise decrease in assembly power was observed following any reduction in reactor power; this is attributed to short-circuiting of individual elements, to irreversible increase in temperature of the collectors, and to possible increase in heat loss from the emitter.
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Literature Cited
V. I. Berzhatyi et al., Atomnaya Énergiya,31, No. 6, 585 (1971).
Yu. A. Broval'skii et al., Report of the Second International Conference on Thermionic Energy Conversion [in Russian], Izd. VNIIT, Moscow (1969), p. 281.
M. Yaters et al., The Third International Conference on Thermionic Electrical Power Generation, Jülich FRG (June, 1972), Session C-34.
Additional information
Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 35, No. 6, pp. 387–390, December, 1973.
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Bekmukhambetov, E.S., Berzhatyi, V.I., Gritsaenko, V.P. et al. Life tests of a thermionic converter. At Energy 35, 1084–1088 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01161885
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01161885