The ERDA thermionic program
2011
A rationale for increased Federal support of thermionic research is considered and the objectives and milestones of the thermionic program of the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) are examined. The ERDA program is to provide very high specific power systems needed for planned future NASA nuclear electric propulsion missions. Another objective is the enhancement of the overall thermal conversion efficiency of the present utility power plants from approximately 35% to 50% or more. Attention is given to key problem areas, taking into account inadequate analytical tools, the reduction of the plasma arc-drop losses, aspects of hot shell materials development, and the coordination of the participating groups programmatic activities.
Keywords:
- Electricity generation
- Reliability engineering
- Milestone (project management)
- Power station
- Electric power
- Work function
- Energy transformation
- Operations management
- Electric power system
- Energy conversion efficiency
- Engineering
- Power density
- Electrical engineering
- Thermionic emission
- Electrically powered spacecraft propulsion
- Systems engineering
- Correction
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