A thermionic emission converter for the direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy

摘要

928,985. Thermionic converters; nuclear reactors. EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, EURATOM. March 12, 1962 [March 13, 1961], No. 9414/62. Classes 39 (1) and 39 (4). In a method of producing electrical energy by direct conversion from thermal energy, a solid emitter electrode, constituted by a nuclear fuel element 10, is immersed in a relatively cool, liquid, collector electrode 11. A gas film is maintained between the electrodes by evaporation of collector electrode liquid, which is circulated in a cooling and/or purifying circuit 12. As shown, a plurality of ceramic fuel rods 10 are supported in a liquid alkali metal 11 contained in a stainless steel housing 19 to form the core of a fast nuclear reactor. The circulation system 12 includes a pump 14, and a cleaning circuit in parallel with heat exchanger 13. The elements 10 are screwed into insulators 15 or into a bus-bar 16 within the housing, and are supported laterally by spacing screen 18, their lower ends being provided with insulating caps 17. An alternative type of fuel element, Fig. 1 (not shown), comprises a fuel rod immersed in alkali metal in a stainless steel container.