Thermionic nuclear power systems

Andreev PV, Galkin AYa, Zhabotinsky EE et al (1995) Electrical propulsion units based on Topaz-type thermionic nuclear power systems for information satellite systems. In Proceedings of the 12th Symposium on space nuclear power systems, Pt. 1, Albuquerque NM, pp 335—339... 

Historically, the primary motivation for the development of thermionic converters has been their potential application to nuclear power systems in space, both reactor and radioisotope. In addition, thermionic converters are attractive for terrestrial, solar, and combustion applications. 

The foresight of these trends led to the necessity to develop nuclear power systems with a thermionic converter. 

Ponomarev-Syepnoi NN, Usov VA et al (1993) Space nuclear power system based on thermionic reactor with single-cell TFEs. In 10th Symposium on space nuclear power and propulsion, Pt. 3... 

A diamond-coated cylinder of refractory metal (Nb, Mo, W, or Re) may replace the cylindrical ceramic insulators used in thermionic fuel elements (TFE) for space nuclear-power systems. A TFE converts the thermal energy from a nucleeu reaction into electrical energy and is designed to provide power to a spacecraft for as long as ten years. The unique properties of diamond would prevent power loss due to electrical leakage... 

The NPPs based on thermionic reactor converters may also become the basis for nuclear power propulsion systems. There are two possible development lines ... 

As previously stated, uranium carbides are used as nuclear fuel (145). Two of the typical reactors fueled by uranium and mixed metal carbides are thermionic, which are continually being developed for space power and propulsion systems, and high temperature gas-cooled reactors (83,146,147). In order to be used as nuclear fuel, carbide microspheres are required. These microspheres have been fabricated by a carbothermic reduction of UO and elemental carbon to form UC (148,149). In addition to these uses, the carbides are also precursors for uranium nitride based fuels. 

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