Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the Question of “Decisive Advantages” of Thermionic Conversion for Space Power Systems

  • Published:
Thermal Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The introduction of nuclear power in space at a new technological level will make it possible to create radically new space facilities and bring space activities to a qualitatively new level. One of the key problems in the development of space nuclear reactor power systems is choosing the system for conversion of the reactor thermal power to electricity. At present, thermionic and Brayton cycle gas turbine converters are considered for these power systems. The article presents the results of comparing these types of converters in one of the parameters that are important for space engineering: the required areas of the cooler-radiator for the release of the thermal power unused in the heat power converter. It has been shown that the thermionic converters have no significant advantages at the practically achievable efficiencies of conversion and thermal release temperatures as compared to the Brayton cycle converters with regard to the radiator area. These converters should be compared in terms of all parameters intrinsic to the space nuclear power systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. V. I. Yarygin, “Thermoelectricity and thermal emission in space nuclear power systems of direct conversion. Current state and prospects,” in Proc. Int. Conf. Nuclear Power Engineering in Space 2005, Moscow–Podol’sk, Mar. 1–3, 2005 (NIKIET, Moscow, 2005), Vol. 1, pp. 27–43.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Thermionics Quo Vadis? An Assessment of the DRTA’s Advanced Thermionics Research and Development Program (Natl. Acad., Washington, DC, 2001).

  3. L. S. Mason, A Comparison of Brayton and Stirling Space Nuclear Power Systems for Power Levels from 1 Kilowatt to 10 Megawatts, NASA/TM—2001-210593 (NASA, 2001).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. L. S. Mason, A Power Conversion Concept for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter, NASA/TM—2003-212596 (NASA, 2003).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Prometheus Project. Final Report, 982—R120461 (2005).

  6. R. A. Evdokimov and V. V. Sinyavskii, “Comparative analysis of thermionic and gas-turbine conversion schemes of thermal energy into electric energy in space nuclear power systems of transport-energy modules,” in Proc. Int. Conf. Nuclear Power Engineering in Space 2005, Moscow–Podol’sk, Mar. 1–3, 2005 (NIKIET, Moscow, 2005), Vol. 1, pp. 159–168.

    Google Scholar 

  7. V. P. Legostaev, V. A. Lopota, and V. V. Sinyavskii, “Prospects for and efficiency in application of space nuclear power plants and nuclear electrorocket propulsion systems,” Kosm. Tekh. Tekhnol., No. 1, 4–15 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  8. V. V. Sinyavskii, “Advanced technology for nuclear electric propulsion orbital transfer vehicle Hercules,” Kosm. Tekh. Tekhnol., No. 3, 25–45 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  9. V. V. Sinyavskii, “Design studies of thermionic lithiumniobium nuclear power generating systems with electric output of 5–10 MW,” Kosm. Tekh. Tekhnol., No. 4, 31–42 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  10. A. V. Romanov, Theory of Complex Optimization of Spacecraft Design with Nuclear Thermionic Power Systems, Ed. by B. I. Poletaev, and A. P. Kovalev (NPO Professional, St. Petersburg, 2010) [in Russian].

  11. “Space reactor systems,” in Machine Construction. Encyclopedia (Mashinostroenie, Moscow, 2005), Vol. IV–25, Book 2, Ch. 6.2 [in Russian].

  12. N. E. Kukharkin, N. N. Ponomarev-Stepnoi, and V. A. Usov, Space Nuclear Power Engineering (Nuclear Reactors with Thermoelectric and Thermionic Conversion — “Romashka” and “Enisei”), Ed. by N. N. Ponomarev-Stepnoi (IzdAT, Moscow, 2012) [in Russian].

  13. V. Ya. Pupko, History of Works on Nuclear Flying Vehicles for Spacecraft and Aircraft Systems in the State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation (Fiziko-Energ. Inst., Obninsk, 2002) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SSC Keldysh Research Center, Moscow, 125438, Russia

    A. S. Koroteev

Authors
  1. A. S. Koroteev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. S. Koroteev.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © A.S. Koroteev, 2018, published in Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Energetika.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Koroteev, A.S. On the Question of “Decisive Advantages” of Thermionic Conversion for Space Power Systems. Therm. Eng. 65, 969–971 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040601518130074

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040601518130074

Keywords

Search

Navigation