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Morris, J. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Morris, J. F..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Diminiode thermionic energy conversion with lanthanum-hexaboride electrodes

Thermionic conversion data obtained from a variable gap cesium diminiode with a hot pressed, sintered lanthanum hexaboride emitter and an arc melted lanthanum hexaboride collector are presented. Performance curves cover a range of temperatures: emitter 1500 to 1700 K, collector 750 to 1000 K, and cesium reservoir 370 to 510 K. Calculated values of emitter and collector work functions and barrier index are also given.

Kroeger, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

High-temperature, high-power-density thermionic energy conversion for space

Theoretic converter outputs and efficiencies indicate the need to consider thermionic energy conversion (TEC) with greater power densities and higher temperatures within reasonable limits for space missions. Converter-output power density, voltage, and efficiency as functions of current density were determined for 1400-to-2000 K emitters with 725-to-1000 K collectors. The results encourage utilization of TEC with hotter-than-1650 K emitters and greater-than-6W sq cm outputs to attain better efficiencies, greater voltages, and higher waste-heat-rejection temperatures for multihundred-kilowatt space-power applications. For example, 1800 K, 30 A sq cm TEC operation for NEP compared with the 1650 K, 5 A/sq cm case should allow much lower radiation weights, substantially fewer and/or smaller emitter heat pipes, significantly reduced reactor and shield-related weights, many fewer converters and associated current-collecting bus bars, less power conditioning, and lower transmission losses. Integration of these effects should yield considerably reduced NEP specific weights.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Optimize out-of-core thermionic energy conversion for nuclear electric propulsion

Current designs for out of core thermionic energy conversion (TEC) to power nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) were evaluated. Approaches to improve out of core TEC are emphasized and probabilities for success are indicated. TEC gains are available with higher emitter temperatures and greater power densities. Good potentialities for accommodating external high temperature, high power density TEC with heat pipe cooled reactors exist.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Thermocouples of tantalum and rhenium alloys for more stable vacuum-high temperature performance

Thermocouples of the present invention provide stability and performance reliability in systems involving high temperatures and vacuums by employing a bimetallic thermocouple sensor wherein each metal of the sensor is selected from a group of metals comprising tantalum and rhenium and alloys containing only those two metals. The tantalum, rhenium thermocouple sensor alloys provide bare metal thermocouple sensors having advantageous vapor pressure compatibilities and performance characteristics. The compatibility and physical characteristics of the thermocouple sensor alloys of the present invention result in improved emf, temperature properties and thermocouple hot junction performance. The thermocouples formed of the tantalum, rhenium alloys exhibit reliability and performance stability in systems involving high temperatures and vacuums and are adaptable to space propulsion and power systems and nuclear environments.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The NASA thermionic-conversion /TEC-ART/ program

The NASA program for applied research and technology in thermionic energy conversion is described, and the approaches used to obtain the goal of reduced interelectrode losses, improved emitters, and improved collectors are indicated. The current emphasis on out-of-core thermionics allows materials and designs previously prohibited by in-core nucleonics and geometrics. Since high-temperature material effects are important for several components, tungsten, 25%-rhenium technology is a subject of research. Emitter-vaporization, collector-deposition effects were studied, and improvements in metallic-fluid heat pipes are considered. Some required characteristics of electrodes are examined.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Thermionic energy conversion technology - Present and future

Aerospace and terrestrial applications of thermionic direct energy conversion and advances in direct energy conversion (DEC) technology are surveyed. Electrode materials, the cesium plasma drop (the difference between the barrier index and the collector work function), DEC voltage/current characteristics, conversion efficiency, and operating temperatures are discussed. Attention is centered on nuclear reactor system thermionic DEC devices, for in-core or out-of-core operation. Thermionic fuel elements, the radiation shield, power conditions, and a waste heat rejection system are considered among the thermionic DEC system components. Terrestrial applications include topping power systems in fossil fuel and solar power generation.

Shimada, K.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The NASA thermionic-conversion (TEC-ART) program

The current emphasis is on out-of-core thermionic conversion (TEC). The additional degrees of freedom offer new potentialities, but high-temperature material effects determine the level and lifetime of TEC performance: New electrodes not only raise power outputs but also maintain them regardless of emitter-vapor deposition on collectors. In addition, effective electrodes serve compatibly with hot-shell alloys. Space TEC withstands external and internal high-temperature vaporization problems, and terrestrial TEC tolerates hot corrosive atmospheres outside and near-vacuum inside. Finally, reduction of losses between converter electrodes is essential even though rather demanding geometries appear to be required for some modes of enhanced operation.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

NASA thermionic-conversion program

Technological processes in out-of-core thermionic energy conversion are described. The emphasis was on high temperature electrode materials and system engineering of converter geometries to produce practical power densities.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

NASA Thermionic-Conversion program

NASA's program for applied research and technology (ART) in Thermionic Energy Conversion (TEC) has made worthwhile contributions in a relatively short time. Materials and designs previously prohibited by in-core nucleonics and geometrics now offer new potentialities. High-temperature material effects are crucial to the level and duration of TEC performance: New electrodes must increase and maintain power output regardless of emitter-vapor deposition on collectors. They must also serve compatibly with hot-shell alloys. And while space TEC must face high-temperature vaporization problems externally as well as internally, terrestrial TEC must tolerate hot corrosive atmospheres outside and near-vacuum inside. Furthermore, some modes for decreasing interelectrode losses appear to requisite rather demanding converter geometries to produce practical power densities.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Diminiode thermionic conversion with 111-iridium electrodes

Preliminary data indicating thermionic-conversion potentialities for a 111-iridium emitter and collector spaced 0.2 mm apart are presented. These results comprise output densities of current and of power as functions of voltage for three sets of emitter, collector, and reservoir temperatures: 1553, 944, 561 K; 1605, 898, 533 K; and 1656, 1028, 586 K. For the 1605 K evaluation, estimates produced work-function values of 2.22 eV for the emitter and 1.63 eV for the collector with a 2.0-eV barrier index (collector work function plus interelectrode voltage drop) corresponding to the maximum output of 5.5 W/sq cm at 0.24 volt. The current, voltage curve for the 1656 K 111-iridium diminiode yields a 6.2 W/sq cm maximum at 0.25 volt and is comparable with the 1700 K envelope for a diode with an etched-rhenium emitter and a 0.025-mm electrode gap made by TECO and evaluated by NASA.

Koeger, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

NASA thermionic-conversion program

Current out-of-core emphases allow converter material and design freedoms previously prohibited by in-core nucleonic and geometric restrictions. As a result, potential improvements indicate possibilities for severalfold increases in efficiencies. The new TEC-ART program concentrated initially on low-work function collectors and interelectrode-loss reduction and revealed much in a short time. This new emission capability coupled with improved collectors that maintain performance with emitter-vapor deposit accumulations are requisites for efficient, enduring thermionic converters.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

NASA thermionic-conversion program

The NASA applied research and technology (ART) program for thermionic energy conversion (TEC) is progressing effectively. Current out-of-core emphases allow converter material and design freedoms previously prohibited by in-core nucleonic and geometric restrictions. As a result, potential improvements indicate possibilities for severalfold increases in efficiencies. The new TEC-ART program concentrated initially on low-work-function collectors and interelectrode-loss reduction and revealed much in a short time. For example, arc-drop studies verified the necessity of stable emitters that operate well with little or no adsorbed cesium. This new emission capability coupled with improved collectors that maintain performance with emitter-vapor deposit accumulations are requisites for efficient, enduring thermionic converters. The accomplishments and contributors in these areas are discussed.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Binary alloys for refractory-metal brazing

Data on binary-metal eutectics and melting-point minimums have been assembled for use in selecting brazing filler compositions for refractory metals. Data are presented in four tables for ready reference. Brief discussion of problems and potentials of metallides is included in appendix.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Thermionic performance of a cesium diminiode with relatively impure 110-tungsten electrodes

Thermionic performance data from a miniature plane cesium diode (diminiode) with 110-tungsten electrodes are presented. The diminiode has a guard-ringed collector and a spacing of 0.23 mm. The data were obtained by using a computerized acquisition system. The diode was tested at increments between 1700 and 1900 K for the emitter, 694 and 1101 K for the collector, and 519 and 650 K for the reservoir. A maximum power density of 4.5 W/sq cm was obtained at an emitter temperature of 1900 K. This relatively low output probably results from high carbon and sodium impurities in the electrode materials.

Smith, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High-efficiency, low-temperature cesium diodes with lanthanum-hexaboride electrodes

Lanthanum hexaboride electrodes in 1700 K cesium diodes may triple power outputs compared with those demonstrated for nuclear thermionic space applications. Still greater relative gains seem possible for emitters below 1700 K. Further improvements in cesium diode performance should result from the lower collector temperatures allowed for earth and low power space duties. Decreased temperatures will lessen thermal transport losses that attend thermionic conversion mechanisms. Such advantages will add to those from collector Carnot and electrode effects. If plasma ignition difficulties impede diode temperature reductions, recycling small fractions of the output power could provide ionization. So high efficiency, low temperature cesium diodes with lanthanum hexaboride electrodes appear feasible.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High-efficiency, low-temperature cesium diodes with lanthanum-hexaboride electrodes

Lanthanum-hexaboride electrodes in 1700 K cesium diodes may triple power outputs compared with those demonstrated for nuclear thermionic space applications. Still greater relative gains seem possible for emitters below 1700 K. Further improvements in cesium-diode performance should result from the lower collector temperatures allowed for earth and low-power-space duties. Decreased temperatures will lessen thermal-transport losses that attend thermionic-conversion mechanisms. Such advantages will add to those from collector-Carnot and electrode effects. If plasma ignition difficulties impede diode temperature reductions, recycling small fractions of the output power could provide ionization. So high-efficiency, low-temperature cesium diodes with lanthanum-hexaboride electrodes appear feasible.

Morris, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Energy-conversion research and development with diminiodes

Diminiodes are variable-gap cesium diodes with plane emitters and guarded collectors a few millimeters in diameter. This miniaturization allows the electrodes to be made of little pieces of rare materials like single crystals of unusual metals or metallides. In addition to smallness, diminiode advantages include simplicity, precision, fabrication ease, parts interchangeability, cleanliness, full instrumentation, ruggedness, and economy. The diminiode design also stresses effective, economical use with computers that control, collect, and correlate thermionic current and voltage data. Such diminiode tests completed recently for ultrapure metal electrodes produced relatively low, sharply defined ultimate power outputs.

Morris, J. F.↗