Radioisotope Thermionic Converters for Space Applications

Miskolczy, G.; Lieb, D.

doi:10.1109/iecec.1990.716874

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Alternative power conversion technologies are currently being studied, including: thermionic [13], thermophotovoltaic [14], Brayton and Stirling power conversion systems [15]. The use of Stirling electric generators has recently been of great interest to several research institutes including the NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio [16].…”

Section: Power Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safe radioisotope thermoelectric generators and heat sources for space applications

O’Brien

Ambrosi

Bannister

et al. 2008

Journal of Nuclear Materials

205

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Section: Power Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safe radioisotope thermoelectric generators and heat sources for space applications

O’Brien

Ambrosi

Bannister

et al. 2008

Journal of Nuclear Materials

205

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“…The U.S. also developed small thermionic converters for RPS applications, in the frame of the SNAP-3C1, 3D1 (vacuum thermionic converters) and SNAP-13 (cesium thermionic converter) programs [23]. The SNAP-13 system was built in 1966 and used ignited-mode cesium-filled approach to mitigate space charge issues [21].…”

Section: Thermionicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermophotovoltaic energy in space applications: Review and future potential

Datas

Martı́

2017

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

159

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This article reviews the state of the art and historical development of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion along with that of the main competing technologies, i.e. Stirling, Brayton, thermoelectrics, and thermionics, in the field of space power generation. Main advantages of TPV are the high efficiency, the absence of moving parts, and the fact that it directly generates DC power. The main drawbacks are the unproven reliability and the low rejection temperature, which makes necessary the use of relatively large radiators. This limits the usefulness of TPV to small/medium power applications (100 W e -class) that includes radioisotope (RTPV) and small solar thermal (STPV) generators. In this article, next generation TPV concepts are also revisited in order to explore their potential in future space power applications. Among them, multiband TPV cells are found to be the most promising in the short term because of their higher conversion efficiencies at lower emitter temperatures; thus significantly reducing the amount of rejected heat and the required radiator mass.

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The atom and nuclear radiation

Koreshi

2022

Nuclear Engineering Mathematical Modeling and Simulation

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Radioisotope Thermionic Converters for Space Applications

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Safe radioisotope thermoelectric generators and heat sources for space applications

Safe radioisotope thermoelectric generators and heat sources for space applications

Thermophotovoltaic energy in space applications: Review and future potential

The atom and nuclear radiation

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